Eleven years later and this American Idol alum finds herself in the spotlight for a different reason.
Antonella Barba, 31, formerly of Point Pleasant and now reportedly living in Los Angeles, was released from jail. She was arrested earlier this month in in Norfolk, Virginia, for heroin possession. She had enough in her rental car to justify charging her with intent to distribute.
According to media reports, she denies knowing the rental car had heroin in it.
If convicted, she faces a minimum of five years, and up to 40 years, in prison, with a $500,000 fine.
Barba, who People.com reports as living in Los Angeles, must stay with her parents in Point Pleasant and be monitored by GPS and abide by a curfew.
The story was shared, and since deleted, on an active Facebook page for Point Pleasant Boro, Beach and Bay Head by the reporter from a local daily. While one person defended the story being shared to the page, many others called it “click bait” and demanded their neighbor be left alone. The family is part of their community, they argued, and should be allowed to deal with this family issue quietly.
Barba has remained mostly out of the spotlight, whether by choice or market forces is unclear. She made it to the top 16 during her time on American Idol, a season in which Jordin Sparks was ultimately crowned top idol. Barba made an appearance on Fear Factor in 2012 and a parody of “We Are The World” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this past May.
