Art Garfunkel

[Johnny]

"If John Lennon is deported, I'm leaving too... with my musicians... and my marijuana." - Art Garfunkel

02 Sept 2005 NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Singer Art Garfunkel, who pleaded guilty to marijuana possession last year, has been arrested again on the same charge.

Garfunkel, 63, half of the legendary '60s duo Simon and Garfunkel, was pulled over on Sunday by a New York state trooper near Woodstock after running a stop sign, The Daily Freeman newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The trooper's report of the incident said a strong marijuana odor was coming from the car and a marijuana cigarette was found in the ashtray.

Garfunkel, who lives in New York City, was given a ticket and is due to appear in Woodstock Town Court on September 22.

In January 2004, Garfunkel was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana after state police from the same barracks stopped his car for speeding. He subsequently pleaded guilty and paid a $100 fine and a $100 state surcharge.

Garfunkel's hits with Paul Simon include "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "The Sound of Silence" and "Scarborough Fair."

2003 - HURLEY - Singer Art Garfunkel has pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and paid a $100 fine, bringing to a close the case that began with his arrest last month on state Route 28.

Garfunkel's attorney, Kingston lawyer Michael Federoff, was scheduled to appear in Hurley Town Court on Garfunkel's behalf Wednesday afternoon but instead entered a guilty plea on Feb. 4, and Garfunkel paid a $100 fine and a $100 state surcharge, court officials said on Wednesday. The case originally was to be heard Jan. 28 but was postponed.

Garfunkel, 62, of Manhattan, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation, after the limousine in which he was riding was pulled over for speeding Jan. 17 on Route 28 in Hurley. The state trooper who stopped the limo smelled marijuana upon approaching the vehicle and, during a search, found a bag containing 6 grams of the drug in Garfunkel's jacket pocket, police said at the time.

The driver of the limo, Ousmane Toure of the Bronx, was ticketed for speeding.

Garfunkel and his musical partner Paul Simon completed a 30-city concert tour of the United States in December, and Garfunkel was on his way to Woodstock when his limo was stopped, police have said.

Simon and Garfunkel recorded five albums as a duo in the 1960s and are known for such songs as "Mrs. Robinson," "The Sounds of Silence," "The Boxer" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water." The 2003 concert tour was their first in 20 years.

Garfunkel has issued no statement about his arrest, either through Federoff or his New York City public relations firm, Rogers and Cowan.