Willie Nelson’s Pot Plea Deal Rejected

Willie Nelson may have to appear in court after all, to face charges stemming from his drug arrest in Texas last year. Hudspeth County Judge Becky Dean-Walker has refused to sign the document reducing the singer's infraction from marijuana possession to possession of drug paraphernalia.

"I'm not going to be guilty of signing something because someone is a celebrity," the judge told Reuters. "Everybody should be treated the same in my court."

The plea deal was made last month with County Attorney C.R. "Kit" Bramblett, after which Willie's attorney, Joe Turner, mailed in the necessary paperwork. "Normally, that's a done deal," Turner told Reuters.

The decision is now up to the prosecuting attorney, who can either take the case to another court or just drop it.

The Redheaded Stranger was picked up on November 26, 2010, after Border Patrol agents smelled pot wafting from his tour bus at a checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, Texas. In a comical turn of events just a few months later, it was reported that if the country icon sang his hit, 'Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,' in the courtroom and paid a $100 fine, all would be forgiven. However, it turned out that was a joke that "got out of hand." Bramblett was apparently frustrated with Judge Dean-Walker and made his own "sentence" in jest.

Finally, June's plea deal included a $500 fine, as well as court costs, which were speculated to reach nearly $300. In addition, if Willie avoided the law for 30 days, the charge would be dropped from his criminal record.

Joe Turner was confident about the plea agreement when it was announced. "The truth is there are a lot of people who had access to the tour bus, and it's not an open-and-shut case," he insisted. "I'd like to think it was because he had a good lawyer."

Judge Dean-Walker originally signed the plea deal but then scratched her name out after discovering the sentence was about the same as a speeding ticket. There's no word yet on whether Bramblett will seek another judge to hear the case.

Willie wrapped up the Country Throwdown Tour in Fort Worth, Texas last night (July 4) and is off the road until the end of the month. Get his concert schedule here.