Legendary Eagles co-founder Don Henley has offered frank testimony in a Manhattan courtroom about a cocaine-fueled night when he was arrested with a 16-year-old prostitute in his Los Angeles home.
Called to the witness stand during a trial over an alleged scheme to sell stolen drafts of lyrics from the band’s classic hit “Hotel California,” the 76-year-old rocker was asked about the 1980 scandal.
“I wanted to forget what was going on. I wanted to escape the depression I was in,” Mr. Henley testified in Manhattan Supreme Court. “So, I made a mistake — I called [a] madam and told her I wanted some company. And a few hours later, a young woman arrived at my home.”
Mr. Henley said no sex occurred, but the night took a dire turn when he discovered the girl having a seizure the following morning, prompting him to summon medical assistance.
Paramedics were faced with the decision to either remove the girl for treatment or leave her in Mr. Henley’s care, a choice that culminated in law enforcement involvement and subsequently, Mr. Henley’s misdemeanor charge for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Mr. Henley was asked by Assistant District Attorney Aaron Ginandes whether he had found the “escape” he said he’d been seeking.
“Apparently not,” Mr. Henley replied. “I wanted to forget about everything that was happening with the band. I made a poor decision which I regret to this day. I’ve had to live with it for 44 years. I’m still living with it today in this courtroom.”
In a non-jury trial, Mr. Henley’s past intersected with the trial surrounding the suspected theft and intended sale of original “Hotel California” documents. Accused in the case are rare-books dealer Glenn Horowitz, former Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski.
They face charges including conspiracy to possess stolen property, in a scenario where the handwritten lyrics were purportedly passed between hands over the years until reaching New York City collectible sellers.
Defense lawyers, however, argue that Mr. Henley had willingly relinquished the items to Ed Sanders, a writer working on an unpublished Eagles biography.
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