Josh Waring, the son of Real Housewives of Orange County alum Lauri Peterson, is reportedly facing prison time again. In 2021, the star settled a lawsuit for $595,000, which was regarding his claims that sheriffs illegally taped his confidential phone calls and set him up for an attack while still in custody.
At the time, Josh reportedly faced up to 65 years in prison and was credited for exposing the police scandal. After the alleged corruption was uncovered, Josh was granted time served for awaiting trial.
However, on Monday, September 19, Josh pleaded guilty to drug charges. According to Fox 11 Los Angeles, the former castmate was then given a two-year prison sentence.
Josh’s guilty plea included “a felony count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell, one count of possession of a stun gun with a prior conviction, three counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, all misdemeanors,” reported the outlet.
The 33-year-old was granted credit for the 106 days he served in custody.
Carrie Braun, an OC Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, claims Josh was in possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Deputies alleged that they encountered Josh on January 6 sitting with a woman in a vehicle in a parking lot in San Juan Capistrano. Because Josh was still on parole, authorities searched him and allegedly discovered multiple baggies of fentanyl.
In January, Josh pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, and he was sentenced to jail for 90 days. With the plea deal, misdemeanor counts of drug paraphernalia possession and falsely representing himself to authorities were dismissed — as were the counts of controlled substance possession and alteration of markings for an imitation firearm or device, which were from another case.
Originally, Josh was charged with attempted murder for the 2016 shooting of Daniel Lopez in Costa Mesa. Two people reportedly escaped injury amid the drive-by.