Robert Downey Jr. recently described his time behind bars in an interview.
After his release, the actor of “Oppenheimer”, who was arrested for driving while under the influence, skipped probation and was sentenced to federal jail.
Downey served a year of his sentence.
“I’m gonna try to give you the flashcards: I’m in court, I’m being over-sentenced by an angry judge, and at some point, he said something in Latin,” Downey Jr. recalled during the “Armchair Expert” podcast. “I thought he was casting a spell on me.”
“Two weeks later, I was in Delano.” “This is a processing center where they decide what you will do.” “It’s arguably the most dangerous place that I had been in my entire life because no one is designated.” “Everyone is there, whether they are a level 1, 2, or 3 criminal,” he said. “You could feel the evil in the air.”
Downey said, “It felt like being in a bad neighborhood.” “There were no opportunities; only threats.” “Yes, your wallet will be stolen by everyone, so keep an eye on it.”
The “Iron Man’ star also remembered his first moments in the prison facility.
The actor said, “When I walked onto the yard for the first time that you will be working on over a year from now, it was the closest thing to being sent to a faraway planet where there’s no way back until the planets line up”.
Downey, who was arrested and charged in 1996 with driving under the influence. In his car, police also discovered heroin, crack cocaine, and a.357 Magnum.
In 2016, California’s Governor pardoned Downey, which restored his voting rights. According to the Governor’s Office, the pardon did not erase the actor’s conviction but rather was a public declaration that the person had demonstrated “exemplary behavior”.
Downey has also been arrested for “smoking marijuana in a gondola” at Disneyland.
Downey stated that she was taken to a processing center which had a friendly atmosphere, and given a warning. She then returned to the group’s chaperone, who, according to her, was very disappointed.