The DeBarge family’s ongoing battles with drug addiction continue as Mark DeBarge is looking at six month and significant community service for a drug arrest in April, according to TMZ.
Mark, 53, is one of the original members of Debarge that recorded such iconic hots as “I Like It,” “All This Love” and “Love Me in a Special Way. Mark, who also played the trumpet and flugelhorn for the famous family group, was one of the writers of “Stay With Me,” a song that has seen a second life in hip hop as it was used by The Notorious B.I.G. and Ashanti.
The drug addictions have plagued many of the family’s 10 children since the family’s initial introduction to fame more than 30 years ago. The addictions have been chronicled on TV specials and reality shows.
Mark DeBarge was caught with a female companion in a Hollywood hotel room by the woman’s parole officer who was doing a routine check and found them with the drugs. Charged with felony drug possession, in addition to misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a fake ID, Mark pled “no contest” earlier this month to all three counts — and was sentenced to 180 days behind bars. He was also sentenced to 30 days community service with Caltrans and 3 years of probation.
Mark, the father of five, is in custody, and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
