Sheen Request Denied

12/31/1998 at 12:00 AM EST

Judge Lawrence Mira in Malibu, Calif., praised Charlie Sheen's progress in turning his life around but on Monday denied the actor's request for early release from probation because of an interim drug violation charge. Sheen, 34, is serving two years probation on a 1997 conviction for beating a girlfriend. His father, actor Martin Sheen, reported him to Mira last year when the younger Sheen nearly died of a drug overdose. Taking illegal drugs is a violation of probation. Judge Mira said Charlie can make another request for release in March of 2000.