Former NBA player Lamar Odom, estranged husband of reality TV star Khloé Kardashian, will not face felony drug charges after he was found unconscious with cocaine in his system at a Nevada brothel in October.
“Based on the present evidence and surrounding circumstances, the Nye County District Attorney’s office has decided not to bring drug charges against Lamar Odom,” said a statement released Monday from District Attorney Angela A. Bello. “Although the evidence showed Mr. Odom had metabolized cocaine in his system while he was present in Nye County in October of 2015, he was not found in the possession of cocaine and it is unlikely it could [be] established beyond a reasonable doubt he actually ingested, or was impaired by, the drug during the time he was within the jurisdiction of Nye County.”
Odom, who stayed for three days at Dennis Hof’s Love Ranch South, was found unconscious on Oct. 13 and was hospitalized in Las Vegas before being transferred to Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Awakening from the coma within days, he has been rehabilitating since, and on Wednesday was released to a facility close to Kardashian.
Brothel owner Hof told local newspaper the Pahrump Valley Times he applauded the district attorney’s decision, saying it would prevent hesitation in calling for help in such circumstances. “I’m glad that they didn’t prosecute him,” Hof said. “Because I think that it would deter other people in Nye County from calling 911 when they are having an overdose situation.”
The Associated Press said investigators did not speak with Odom, 36, but worked with his attorney, Blair Berk, and that no other recommended charges have been sent to Bello’s office.
Family spokeswoman Alvina Alston told the AP on Friday that South Jamaica-raised Odom has exhibited “miraculous and continued improvement” but gave no details.
