Michael Douglas asks for mercy toward son

New York — Michael Douglas says his family’s fame and history of substance abuse helped drive his troubled son into drug addiction and crime, and the Academy Award-winning actor is asking a judge to show leniency toward him.

“I love my son, but I’m not blind to his actions. … I don’t want to see him break,” the actor told the federal judge in a handwritten letter made public Monday, on the eve of Cameron Douglas’ sentencing in a drug case.

The five-page letter, penned in an elegant script, joins others written to the court by Cameron Douglas’ high-profile supporters, including grandfather Kirk Douglas, stepmother Catherine Zeta-Jones and NBA executive Pat Riley.

Cameron Douglas, arrested in July at a Manhattan hotel, admitted in January that he dealt methamphetamine and cocaine. He pleaded guilty to a drug charge that carries a mandatory 10 years in prison, but his lawyers and supporters are arguing for less time.

Mo’Nique’s brother says he molested her

Chicago — The brother of Oscar winner Mo’Nique said Monday on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show that he molested the actress when they were children and he wants to apologize to her.

Gerald Imes said on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that the molestation continued for a year or two, starting when he was 13 and Mo’Nique was 7 or 8.

“I abused and betrayed the trust of another sibling, my sister, my blood sister,” Imes said. He apologized to the actress, saying “I’m sorry, Mo’Nique. I’m sorry.”

Imes said he decided to appear on Winfrey’s show to apologize to Mo’Nique and bring their family back together. Imes said he himself was molested and he was using drugs and alcohol at age 11.

“Hopefully somewhere, somehow as siblings we can come back together as brother and sister,” he said.

Mo’Nique has discussed her brother’s molestation in previous interviews. She hasn’t responded to a request for comment sent to her publicist. Winfrey said Mo’Nique didn’t want to be a part of the interview but gave Winfrey her blessing.

“She said if your expressing what you had done to her could save one family then it would be worth it,” Winfrey told Imes. Mo’Nique’s parents also appeared on the episode.