TMZ has learned 'American Idol' contestant Halicia Thompson has twice been convicted of crimes, one involving a police officer.
Thompson was arrested and convicted of criminal trespass in 1998, and she tells TMZ it was "racial."
The incident occurred on Easter Sunday at the Golden Coral Restaurant in Eden, North Carolina. Thompson tells TMZ a waitress she knew seated her.
Thompson says another waitress came up to her and said the table was reserved for someone else and that she had to vacate. Thompson says her waitress friend seated her at another table, but five minutes later the manager came up and accused her of copping "an attitude" with the other waitress and asked her to leave. Thompson refused, and the police were called.
According to the police report, Thompson was screaming (to the manager) "gethis motherf---ing ass out here to get me out."
The police report states that when Thompson refused to leave, she was cuffedand advised she could not use profanity in a public place around children. Ms.Thompson allegedly responded: "F--k the children." She was then taken to jail.
"They got me up, busted up my veins and tore my dress," Thompson tells TMZ.Eden Police Chief Gary Benthin tells TMZ Thompson never complained aboutmistreatment. Thompson pled guilty to second degree trespass, a misdemeanor andwas placed on probation. She was also ordered to pay a $100 fine and to sendthe restaurant a letter of apology, which she did.
TMZ contacted the Golden Coral Restaurant, which is now under new ownership;management had no comment.
Three months after the Golden Coral Restaurant incident, Thompson was bustedagain, this time for disorderly conduct. According to court papers, she"intentionally caused a public disturbance by using abusive language, intendingand plainly likely to provoke immediate violent retaliation..." The papersclaim she shouted "f--k him" at a police officer as he was trying to get her toleave the scene where a woman had been injured. She was convicted of thatoffense.
Thompson says she has had constant problems with police and acknowledges, "I'vebeen arrested a couple of times."
Thompson tells TMZ there was a third incident in which police "wrongly"suspected she was in possession of illegal drugs. TMZ could not find courtrecords on this case. Thompson says she was not prosecuted.
She tells TMZ she now has a good relationship with the police, adding "I brokedown and joined them" by enrolling at a local college of criminal justice.
