A New York judge threatened Boy George with jail on Monday after the musician failed to complete a community service requirement.
The penalty was handed down in March when George (real name: George O’Dowd) admitted to falsely reporting a burglary to escape more serious charges of drug possession. He was sentenced to rake leaves, but didn’t fulfill the order because he wanted to do something less humiliating.
George’s defense lawyer Louis Freeman argued in court earlier this month that if the singer was forced to clean city streets or a park, “It would turn into a media circus.” Instead, he said George wanted to do work with an AIDS charity.
Criminal Court Judge Anthony Ferrara saw things differently, though, and gave George until August 28 to complete the five days of community service.
“This is a simple matter,” said Ferrara to the 45-year-old singer. “Five days of community service. It’s up to you as to whether it will be an exercise in humiliation or an exercise in humility. Your choice.”
The charges came against George last fall when police responded to his report of a burglary and found 13 bags of cocaine in his apartment.
