Nicholas Gene "Nick" Carter won't become a convicted criminal.
Carter agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program that will allow him to avoid jail and any criminal record for getting into a spat with a Tampa police officer at a nightclub last month.
"He is a first-time offender, and we treated him just like anyone else," Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said Friday.
Police handcuffed Carter, 22, on Jan. 2, saying he refused to stop arguing with a woman and leave Pop City, a video arcade and nightclub on Channelside Drive in downtown Tampa.
As the club was closing about 3 a.m., police ordered Carter 10 times to leave but he wouldn't, authorities said. Police did not say what Carter and the unidentified woman were arguing about.
Carter only calmed down when an officer handcuffed him and put him in the back of a police car, police said.
At the time, Carter, who grew up in Ruskin and often hangs out at Pop City, said he had "done nothing wrong."
"I truly believe my celebrity motivated the officer to arrest me," he said in a statement released soon after his arrest.
Police, however, said they didn't know who Carter was. The same police officers approved the pretrial intervention deal, Bondi said.
Carter was charged with resisting or opposing a law enforcement officer without violence, a misdemeanor. If convicted, the internationally known sex symbol could have faced a year in jail and probation.
But rather than go to trial and risk a criminal record, Carter agreed to enter a pretrial intervention program, which is similar to probation. He will pay a fine, perform community service and serve a period of probation.
Bondi didn't know Friday how long it would take for Carter to complete the program. She also didn't know the size of the fine or the number of hours of community service Carter will complete.
The State Attorney's Office often offers first-time offenders the chance to keep their records clean by completing pretrial programs. If Carter finishes the program, prosecutors will drop the charges.
"He made a stupid decision that night," Bondi said.
Nick Carter not rowdy
While some of the high-class stars were hanging in the high-end bars and clubs, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter took a walk on the mild side.
The 22-year-old BSBer danced into McGillins Olde Ale House 'round midnight Friday on the recommendation of a couple of Penn grad students who are his longtime friends.
He was casual in a white sweat suit and easy with anyone who approached him, whether for an autograph or a picture. "He couldn't have been nicer," said one of the group that joined him. (This hardly seemed like the guy arrested in a Tampa nightclub for mouthing off to a cop.)
At closing time, some McGillins staffers asked if he would accompany them to an after-hours club. In the words of one of his hits, he said, "Yes, I Will" (or words to that effect).
They walked him - and the slight brunette whose hand he was holding - over to the journalists' Pen & Pencil club, which he also closed.
We'd tell you more, but the club rule is everything within its walls is off the record.
Backstreet Boys Score 3 Teen Scene Nominations
Teen Scene Magazine is again rolling out the 'Teen Scene E-Awards 2002' and have just announced the nominations. The Backstreet Boys scored 3 nominations including "CD That Rocks Your World", "Single That Rocks Your World", and "Group That Rocks Your World"
The Backstreet Boys won several Teen Scene E-Awards last year, along with Krystal. The E-Awards are voted on by YOU, the fans. This year the voting will take place in the April 2002 issue which will be released on March 5th, and then the winners will be announced in the May 2002 issue which will be released on April 5th. Make sure that you get voting for the Backstreet Boys so that they can win some awards again this year! If you'd like to head on over to Teen Scene check out their website at, http://www.teenscenemag.com - the nominations are listed in the Teen 411 section.
Breakfast in the Rainforest with Kevin Richardson A Benefit for the Just Within Reach Foundation
Join Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson for an exclusive breakfast at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Chicago.
Saturday, April 6, 2002 9-10:30AM
Only 100 tickets available!
Tickets will be sold at the Rainforest Cafe (605 N Clark Street) on Saturday, February 23, 2002 from 9AM-11AM
Ticket Price: $100 each, which includes:
A unique breakfast experience, an environmental tour and access to raffle and auction items, including autographed merchandise.
VIP Tickets Also Available!
A limited number of VIP tickets will be sold, First-come, first-served for $250 each. In addition to the breakfast, the VIPs will also accompany Kevin on the Rainforest Cafe's private environmental and educational tour to learn about issue's surrounding the ever-decreasing rainforest!
Carters To Collaborate On Joint Album
Aaron Carter reveals he'll be collaborating on an album with his big brother, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.
"We should be recording together soon," says 14-year-old Aaron, who performs three songs with Nick on his Feb. 16 pay-per-view special "Aaron Carter's Valentine Party."
"It was great. My brother and I sang together on the previous tour (when he opened for the Backstreet Boys), but we'd never done an actual special." Adds the pubescent recording star of their joint TV offering, "It has a lot of cool interaction stuff ... interviews and skits with my brother. He did a good job."
Right now, Aaron is concentrating on the 25-city U.S. tour he began last week in support of his latest Jive album "Oh Aaron," which has already been certified platinum. He says he'll be on the road for about a month and a half, then gear up to head overseas.
If you miss him here this time around, don't worry. "We're coming back to the States and will probably be out here on tour the rest of the summer."
Howie D. To Appear At Rock & Sports Experience
Washington, D.C. - February 1, 2002 - Howie D. will be making a special appearance at Hot 99.5's Rock & Sports Experience on Saturday, February 16th, 2002, to promote lupus awareness. The Rock & Sports Experience, which is being held at the D.C. Covention Center, attracts over 20,000 people, and will also include players from the Washington Wizards and Redskins, as well as a host of other bands.
Howie's appearance is part of his effort to spread lupus awareness, and is being done in conjunction with Buzz Marketing Group. The Dorough Lupus Foundation (DLF) and Buzz Marketing Group (Buzz MG) have partnered together to help spread lupus awareness among young people, to raise funds for lupus research and to aid those living with lupus.
The Dorough Lupus Foundation and Buzz MG will co-host a booth at this event, where attendees will be able to purchase DLF merchandise and find out more about lupus. Howie will also host a meet and greet from noon until 1pm.
For more information on the Rock & Sport Experience, visit www.rockandsportsexperience.com. For more information on the Dorough Lupus Foundation, please visit www.doroughlupusfoundation.org. For more information on Buzz Marketing Group, visit www.buzzmg.com.
Backstreet Boy Carter Takes To Water
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Backstreet Boy Nick Carter is getting into motorsports, but unlike other celebrities his races will take place on water, not land.
Carter bought a 43-foot offshore racer with two 750-horsepower engines. He plans to run the 130 mph-boat in the American Power Boat Association's 2002 circuit in the United States and Canada.
The 22-year-old won't actually be in the boat, racing in APBA's Super Vee class. His father, Bob Carter, will be the pilot.
``One of the main reasons I am getting into this is my father,'' the singer said at a news conference Thursday at the Miami International Boat Show. ``It's a dream come true for him.''
Carter said he recruited Lee Murray, a Key West racer known for his aggressive racing tactics, to be the boat's throttleman.
``It's going to be a little difficult getting respect, because I am an entertainer,'' he said. ``But we're going out there to win, not just to show off.''
The Carters live in the Florida Keys. They were introduced to high-speed offshore powerboat racing during last November's Offshore World Championships in Key West.
Nick Carter Racing will debut April 28 in Daytona Beach, then run in the Marathon Offshore Grand Prix May 17-19 in South Florida.
