Her 15 minutes of fame are up

Special to the Times

Sierra, of Tampa, first made headlines in early 2005 as  a top contestant on 'American Idol'.

Jessica Sierra multimedia report
View our extended transformation photo gallery, watch video of Sierra's first appearance in which the judge suggests she find a "new form of entertainment," and watch surveillance video from the night of her arrest.

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TAMPA - After wrestling on the ground following her ejection from an Ybor City club, former American Idol contestant Jessica Sierra punched an off-duty police officer before spewing racial slurs and offering an arresting officer sexual favors for her release, according to a Tampa Police news release.

Sierra, 22, (left) was tossed from Full Moon Saloon Saturday after police said she became belligerent. Outside the club, Sierra walked away but turned back and charged toward a group of clubgoers and yelling profanities, police said.

When officers tried to arrest her , she pushed away and tried to flee. While in custody, police said, Sierra "went back and forth from being combative to apologetic."

In documents made public Tuesday, police detailed the time between her ejection from the Full Moon Saloon until the time Sierra was booked into the Orient Road Jail.

According to the report:

Sierra was outside the club, protesting her ejection with club manager Justin Hay when and officer intervened. Police noted she was "unsteady on her feet and had glassy appearance to her eyes."

After grabbing her arm, Sierra pushed the officer then walked away. The officer grabbed her a second time, and she struck him in the stomach with an open hand. Again, she walked away, this time followed by a friend hoping to calm her down.

Instead, Sierra charged down the sidewalk, pushing people in her way. Sierra and the unidentified friend ended up fighting on the ground.

Placed into a police cruiser, an unruly Sierra started screaming profanities at the officers until she vomited in the back seat. The officer allowed a friend to clean her up with paper towels.

On the way to jail, Sierra was unruly, "disorderly and argumentative at one moment and then apologetic the next." Then came the pleas.

Sierra said she'd do anything to be released, including propositioning the officer for oral sex and letting loose racially-oriented profanities after her proposition was denied.

She vomited once more in the cruiser before pulling into jail, where she continued her profane tirades until she was placed in isolation from other inmates.

Sierra was charged with disorderly intoxication and obstructing or opposing an officer without violence. She was also charged with violating her probation for throwing a cocktail glass at a Hyde Park Cafe patron in April.

Sierra made her first appearance in court Sunday, where she was reprimanded by a Hillsborough County judge.

"Obviously the bar scene isn't working out so well for you," the judge said. "I would suggest that you find another form of entertainment."

John Fitzgibbons, Sierra's attorney, said his client's troubles were the result of her substance abuse.

"Jessica’s most recent problems show once again the wretched curse of drug and alcohol addiction," he said. "It is a horrific disease that has literally destroyed the lives of countless talented and well-known athletes, singers and movie stars, as well as countless other people who are not in the public spotlight.

"There are no easy solutions to addiction and the prognosis is often poor for someone in Jessica’s position, but we will continue to do our best to get her additional help," he said.

-- Casey Cora and Colleen Jenkins, Times staff writer

Photo on left: Booking photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Photo on right: Sierra celebrated after being named an Idol finalist in March 2005. Getty Images

Comments

She needs to be evaluated under doctor's care! She has issues that only a doctor can cure! Sending her to jail is not going to solve her problems!

[MELISSA]

Hummm, I geuss not making it to the number one spot really got to her?!?! Top ten just didn't cut it! But then again she would have fit right in with the rest of Hollywood! Drugging, drinking to excess acting like a crazed person! I guess all she needs now is a DUI to fit the bill.To really fit in with the rest of them Britney, Paris, Lindsey just top name a few...

Question: It says she punched the off duty officer in the face, but is charged with opposing an officer without Violence? WOW. Thats amazing

[James]

I think that Daniel Robert Young might have been a good fit for her. Give him a shot, Jessica!

[MELISSA]

Ok I have a question... how is it that other celebs or children of celebs can mane a person and not serve anytime at all? So now she might get 11 YRS! This does not seem just to me! Ok so she got into a bar fight ( again) 11 yrs seems a bit over the top! The laws in FLA seem a bit backwards and at times the crime does not fit the time!

[Paul]

Looks like she got her 15 minutes of fame... and is now onto eternal lame. Darn girl, talk about chucking away your life and looking like a jackass. Face up to your problems soon because they don't go away on their own.

[Kevin]

I guess she thinks that she can live the rock and roll life...oh well. she needs help.

[Alex]

Gulf Coast Brittney ..meet West Coast Brittney

[SARAH]

THAT GIRL NEEDS CLOTHES AND NEEEDS TO BE IN JAIL...LOL

[Eric]

She looks like a old sea hag!

[Dave]

Poor Jessica. Just goes to show, what's worse than being a has been? Being a never was.

[Don]

The above pictures look like, before meth and after meth. The girl needs some serious help.

[Becky]

Instead of the bashing of the girl thats shes getting,, we need to pray for her. She needs to get her life straightened out with God.

[Lynn]

It is so sad to see such a beautiful and talented woman fall. I'm sorry, Jessica. I hope you make a 180 degree turn around and be who you're supposed to be.

[Laura]

I think the cops are lying about her. I don't think she told them that she would have sex with them I think it's just wishful thinking on there part

[Chris]

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAH HA HAH HAAHHAA HHAAHHHHAAAAAA HAHAHAHAHAHA
HAH HA HA HAAH HAHA

[hoshi]

Laura, maybe in 2005 they would have wished but now she just looks like a big meth addict and who would want to with that??? Drugs my friends, are not worth the eternal hell they cause the user to fall into. She had life by the ba*$s and now all she has is a permanent record and possible jail time - yeah now that's exciting.

[Kerry]

What a train wreck. Why is this news?

[Sammy]

I've always been baffled by those that preach on and on about this woman's talent and beauty. I've never seen it. Her singing is average and her looks are below average. I think that she becomes truly ugly when you factor in her personality, which is wretched. That said, I think 11 years is too long, and she certainly won't receive that. She'll get 6 months tops. She's a loose cannon though. You can bet this story will not end well.

[Shelly]

Resisting arrest WITHOUT violence?? So punching an officer and patrons and inciting people physically is NOT violent? What a joke. Then she name-drops her aunt, Mayor Iorio, drops the N-Bomb numerous times, and offers oral sex as a quid pro quo in return for freedom. This girl is a despicable pig. The police need to amend that charge to resisting WITH violence. What trash.

[Tj]

She is such a LOSER, I hope she gets the full term of 11 years. What a piece of white trash, nobody can defend her actions. Drinking and doing drugs is just a cop-out, she deserves all she gets. Besides its not like she even won anything or was a celebrity. She was and is a NOBODY!!

[Todd]

Maybe FOX will air a new program, Untalented and Unattractive Amercian Trailer Park Pigs. She surely will win season 1.

[Judie]

To Becky....AMEN!!!

[MELISSA]

Well, if her aunt is Pam Iorio she prob won't do much time if any! And isn't the mayor of Tampa a big pusher of DUI convictions and actions such as this?

And it should not matter who she knows, celeb, money no money etc.. the laws should apply the same. Should not matter if your a "somebody" or a "nobody"! Same crime same time!!

[beth]

she sure looks like a druggie now. makeup can't help that face anymore.