Haley Joel Osment is avoiding jail time following his arrest for public intoxication and drug possession—but it’s not a free pass. The actor has been ordered to complete a one-year diversion program aimed at treating substance abuse issues, according to a report from People.
Osment, best known for his Oscar-nominated role in The Sixth Sense, was arraigned Monday and will now have to meet a strict set of requirements if he wants to stay out of jail.
The Court’s Conditions: Weekly Meetings and Therapy
As part of the diversion deal:
- Osment must attend three Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings per week for the next six months.
- He is also required to meet with a therapist twice weekly.
- His compliance will be reviewed at his next court date, scheduled for January 5, 2026.
The court will determine then whether he has fulfilled the program’s terms and is eligible to avoid further legal consequences.
DA Opposed the Program
Not everyone was on board with the diversion option.
The Mono County District Attorney reportedly opposed the deal, pointing to Osment’s 2006 DUI arrest as a red flag. At the time, Osment was just 18 and had crashed his car into a brick pillar while intoxicated. That incident, prosecutors argued, made this second run-in with the law more serious.
Still, the judge sided with the defense, opting for a rehabilitative approach over incarceration.
Flashback: The Arrest and Body Cam Fallout
Osment was arrested earlier this year in Mammoth Lakes, California for public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance, which was later believed to be cocaine.
Body cam footage from the arrest, which later went viral, showed a clearly disoriented Osment slurring offensive language at officers, including a Jewish slur. The actor has since apologized, claiming he used the language “in the throes of a blackout” and vowed to atone for his behavior.
“I take full responsibility for my actions that night,” Osment said in a prior statement. “I’m deeply ashamed and committed to doing the work to recover.”
Redemption Arc or Repeat Offender?
This latest legal run-in, nearly two decades after his DUI arrest, has some questioning whether Osment is struggling with long-term substance issues. But others see the court’s decision as an opportunity for the former child star to take accountability and finally get help.
If Osment completes the program successfully, he may avoid a criminal conviction and keep the charges off his record—a second chance at both sobriety and reputation.
What’s Next?
Osment is due back in court on January 5, 2026, when the judge will review his progress. If he fails to meet the program’s conditions, he could face jail time or stricter penalties.
For now, all eyes are on whether he can stay sober and prove he’s serious about turning things around.