at 19:21 on October 28, 2008, EDT.
By Michael Oliveira, THE CANADIAN PRESS


Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page is set to appear in a New York state court Tuesday to face drug possession charges laid after his July arrest in upstate New York. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Manlius Police Dep


FAYETTEVILLE, N.Y. - Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page will avoid jail time on drug possession charges as long as he seeks substance abuse treatment and stays clean for the next six months, a judge said Tuesday.

If he can meet those conditions, the charges will be dropped, Judge Thomas Morgan said.

Outside the courtroom, the singer thanked his fans and said he's looking forward to the upcoming months as a period of "healing and growth."

"From people on the street who've stopped me to share their support and encouragement, to those friends and loved ones closest to me who've opened their homes and their hearts, I am deeply moved and thankful," he said.

"The greatest gift a person can know is to not go through their life alone and I am fortunate enough to have been afforded that gift. I also apologize to all of those I have hurt or embarrassed during this episode."

Page, 38, his girlfriend, Christine Benedicto, and her roommate, Stephanie Ford, were charged with drug possession in July after police found cocaine at a Fayetteville apartment. Benedicto was 27 at the time of the arrests, while Ford was 25.

Morgan said lawyers underwent "extensive negotiations" to reach the agreement announced Tuesday, which also extends to the two women.

"Based on each defendant's exemplary behaviour and positive attitude from the beginning, I fully expect in six months time this will be over, with each of the defendants ultimately benefitting from this painful experience," Page's lawyer, Mark Mahoney, said in a statement.

"Once the charges are finally dismissed, there will be no legal obstacle to Mr. Page entering the United States like any other Canadian citizen."

In July, police said they spotted a suspiciously parked car with its driver-side door open and when they knocked on the door of the apartment, they were invited inside by Page and Ford.

Ford said in a statement to police filed with the court that she and Page had snorted a white powder she assumed to be cocaine using a rolled-up Canadian bill.

A separate court document says Page told police: "Yeah, it's cocaine."

Page's arrest came just months after the Barenaked Ladies released an album of children's music called "Snacktime."

The band subsequently cancelled an appearance at a children's benefit concert organized by Disney in Long Island, N.Y.

Recently, the Barenaked Ladies announced two concerts for kids and three Christmas-themed shows in Toronto and Ottawa in December.

Born in Toronto, Page met Barenaked Ladies bandmate Ed Robertson in school. In the late 1980s, the pair began performing acoustic sets injected with humour at various university campuses.

They were eventually joined by other band members - including Tyler Stewart, Jim Creeggan and Kevin Hearn.

Their hits have included "If I Had A Million Dollars," "Brian Wilson" and "The Old Apartment."

Last year, Page reportedly separated from his wife of almost 15 years. The couple have three children.


©The Canadian Press, 2008

Let's hope he changes his ways for the better

was a huge bnl fan, but since "everything to every1" they haven't been worth following at all...maybe the drugs r 2 blame..if so getting busted is sweet news for fans LOL

Damn, he looks different than the last time I saw him. Maybe it's the glasses.