Don Henley Recounts Cocaine-Fueled Night with 16-Year-Old Prostitute

Published: Feb. 26, 2024

By Kyle Schnitzer

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Former Eagles co-founder Don Henley appeared in court today to testify in the criminal trial surrounding a scheme involving allegedly stolen handwritten draft lyrics of the band’s hit song “Hotel California”. Henley took the stand to discuss the night he was arrested for his involvement with a 16-year-old prostitute, which he describes as a regret he still lives with today.

Background

During the trial, Henley, now 76, was asked about his 1980 arrest, to which he admitted that he called a “madam” for company to escape his depression caused by the band’s upcoming breakup. He invited the young woman, whom he thought to be around 20 or 21, to his Los Angeles home, where they shared intimate details about themselves, including the news of the Eagles’ split. They also used cocaine together.

The Night of the Arrest

Hoping for a momentary escape, Henley and the young woman engaged in conversation, consuming a little wine, and using cocaine. Eventually, they went to bed, but Henley asserts that they did not have sex. In the morning, he heard a crash from the bedroom and discovered that the girl was having a seizure. Henley promptly called 911 for help.

When the girl woke up later in the day, he told her to arrange for someone to pick her up. However, as she was leaving, the police arrived and arrested Henley.

Regret and Plea

Henley expressed remorse for his actions that night, acknowledging that he made a poor decision that he still lives with to this day. Despite denying having found the escape he was seeking, he admitted to a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in 1981.

The Trial

Henley’s testimony was given as part of the ongoing criminal trial of rare-books dealer Glenn Horowitz, ex-Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator Craig Inciardi, and memorabilia seller Edward Kosinski. They are accused of scheming to sell original documents from when the Eagles worked on their iconic 1976 album and are facing charges of conspiracy to possess stolen property and other related offenses.

Accusations of Stolen Lyrics

During Henley’s testimony, he accused author Ed Sanders of “stealing” the lyrics to “Hotel California” before selling them to rare-collectible sellers in New York City. Sanders allegedly sold Henley’s notepads to Horowitz, who then passed them to Inciardi and Kosinski. The lyrics that disappeared from Henley’s Malibu barn, along with at least 15 notepads and 100 other pages, are at the center of the trial.

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This trial continues to unfold, with Henley’s account shedding light on the cocaine-fueled night he spent with a 16-year-old prostitute. The outcome of the trial will determine the fate of the rare-books dealer, ex-Hall of Fame curator, and memorabilia seller who are accused of conspiring to sell stolen memorabilia of the Eagles.

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