"Platoon" movie director Oliver Stone carefully staged the setting for his courtroom appearance Friday when he pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession and drunk driving, authorities revealed Tuesday. On Friday morning Stone, 52, failed to appear in Beverly Hills Municipal Court for his scheduled plea and sentencing hearing (he was arrested on June 9 after allegedly driving erratically), and municipal court judge Judith Stein refused to accept the guilty pleas from his attorney. Setting a hearing in the case for Sept. 13, Stein ordered Stone to appear -- only the director didn't wait until Sept. 13. On Friday afternoon Stone slipped quietly into the courtroom, long after the media circus of TV crews, photographers and reporters had gone home.

  • The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said in a statement that Stone pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge of possessing cannabis and entered a plea of no contest -- the equivalent of a guilty plea under California law -- to a charge of driving under the influence. He was ordered to attend drug and alcohol treatment programs and was placed on probation for three years.