Ex-Queens of the Stone Age Bassist Nick Oliveri Dodges Jail Time in Plea Deal

Former Queens of the Stone Age bassist Nick Oliveri is breathing a little easier today. TMZ reports that the musician was able to reach a plea deal that will keep him out of jail so long as he remains out of trouble for three years and completes his anger management and community service obligations.

Oliveri was facing some pretty serious charges, after a domestic squabble with his girlfriend ended with a S.W.A.T. team being called to his home and four-hour standoff ensuing. After eventually letting the police in, the cops alleged that they found a loaded shotgun along with cocaine and methamphetamines on the premises.

Oliveri’s lawyer, Freddy Sayegh, told TMZ, “Mr. Oliveri agreed to plead to one count of possession of cocaine and a dismissal of the remaining six felony counts.” Had all the charges stood, the bassist could have been subject to up to 15 years behind bars.

Instead, he’ll get three years felony probation, with 52 weeks of anger management classes and 200 hours of community service. The judge in the case also stated that if Oliveri completed all the requirements that the case would be expunged from his record.

Since leaving Queens of the Stone Age, Oliveri started his own project called Mondo Generator, and briefly appeared in the reunited version of Kyuss known as Kyuss Lives! before dropping out amidst lawsuits between current and former members.