[420 Girl]

Steven Page, the frontman of Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies, has been given a generous chance by a judge, should he enter a rehabilitation center to treat his substance abuse problem and stay clean for the next six months.

Steven Page made a brief appearance in Fayetteville Village Court Tuesday, where village justice Thomas J. Miller said the musician could avoid jail time on a misdemeanor drug charge if he succeeds in being legally irreproachable for six months. This includes seeking substance abuse treatment and staying clean for half a year.

Page pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge. However, if he meets the conditions, the drug possession charges will be dropped, Miller said.

Steven Page, 38, was arrested in mid-July near Syracuse, N.Y., after police officers noticed a car parked suspiciously and found the singer and two women in a nearby apartment, with marijuana and cannabis in their possession.

Both women, Christine Benedicto, Page’s girlfriend, and her roommate, Stephanie Ford, were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance at the time. Benedicto, 27, and Ford, 25, were given the same plea agreement as Page.

The singer must have heaved a huge sigh of relief upon hearing the judge’s decision Tuesday, since he faced up to five and a half years behind bars if he had been convicted on the felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance count initially charged against him.

Page’s attorney said prosecutors acquiesced to show such leniency because the singer had no previous criminal record and because lab analyses had revealed that the drugs were “lower in quantity and lower in quality” than first suspected.

Outside of the courtroom, Page thanked his fans for their support and encouragement and expressed gratitude to the friends and “loved ones” who had been with him through this period. He also apologized to the people who may have felt hurt or embarrassed by the episode. Page added he looked forward to a period of “healing and growth.”

Barenaked Ladies was formed nearly two decades ago in Toronto. Page is a founding member of the group. The band has released twelve albums, the most recent being “Snacktime!” which in early May made it among the Top 10 Canadian albums, reaching No. 10, and peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard 200. The album is a collection of two dozen original children’s songs.

A message on the band’s website announces Barenaked Ladies will return to the studio later this year to start work on a new album that will celebrate 20 years together.

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