"American Idol" just can't stay out of the news. The Smoking Gun.com showing that finalist Harold "Bo" Bice was arrested twice in the past four years on drug charges.
The site notes that Bice "was once arrested for felony cocaine possession, but had the charge dismissed last year after completing a so-called 'diversion program' for first-time offenders."
His participation with the show will be unaffected, Fox said Thursday.
A spokesperson for Fox issued a statement saying “The information disclosed on various salacious gossip websites regarding Bo Bice’s past was already well-known to FOX and the producers of 'American Idol.' From the beginning, Bo was honest and forthcoming in revealing his previous indiscretions and their outcome.”
Several past contestants were booted for failing to disclose arrests, but those who have been forthcoming haven’t been penalized.
Bice, now 29, was arrested by Huntsville, Alabama police in June 2001 for felony cocaine possession, the site reports. The site goes on to say "he was arrested again in July 2003 near Birmingham and charged with marijuana possession, public intoxication, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records."
According to the site, Bice pleaded guilty to the intoxication and drug paraphernalia possession charges, and the marijuana possession charge was dismissed after he attended a "diversion program." Documents relating to the case and posted on the Web site show the cocaine case was eventually dropped, first when a police investigator did not attend a preliminary hearing and later when Bice went through the program.
Viewers of the FOX reality program are still buzzing about "Fallen Idol," and some are still discussing finalist Scott Savol's 2001 arrest for .
Bice is one of the most popular finalists and is favored to compete with Carrie Underwood to win the title. He's considered one of the show's "rockers," along with Constantine Maroulis, .