Somebody is finally reporting that Track Palin has a serious alcohol problem. Well that's a start.

Courtesy of Radar Online:  

Sarah Palin’s son is heading into treatment instead of jail after his January domestic violence arrest — and his own lawyer told RadarOnline.com he needs help for his alcohol problem! 

Track “has been assessed” by the VA, his attorney, Kevin T. Fitzgerald told Radar, and at a hearing later this month, he will receive his proposed treatment plan. 

“I would expect it has some alcohol component,” Fitzgerald said. “In all candor, Track could be well-served by treatment.”

That is a fairly significant admission since up until now Sarah Palin has refused to admit that Track has a substance abuse problem, instead blaming his most recent difficulties on PTSD and oddly enough President Obama.

Fitzgerald had more to say: 

Getting the domestic violence assault charge dropped was “not an insignificant dismissal,” he said, insisting that the possession of a weapon while intoxicated charge “really more accurately tracks what went down” when Track was accused of drunkenly attacking his girlfriend in January. 

Still, Fitzgerald said they weren’t altogether pleased with the final charge that stuck. “I believe it’s got constitutional infirmities because it precludes people form possessing firearms, even unloaded firearms, in their own homes if they’re under the influence,” he insisted. “We weren’t going to make a big constitutional issue of it, but that’s what the situation was.” 

(Yeah, after all what is a Palin without their guns? Besides you know a drunken asshole who abuses women?)

Now, Track, 27, will enter a therapeutic program through the VA, which could last “several months,” the Anchorage DA, Clinton Champion, told Radar. 

Said Fitzgerald, “If he completes the treatment, the last charge too will be dismissed. If he doesn’t then he’s looking at 180 days … with two years of informal probation.”

I will argue that the chances of Track finishing this treatment program successfully are slim.

Because while they seem willing to admit that Track has a drinking problem from what I have heard from just about everybody is that alcoholism is only the tip of the drug addicted iceberg.

And Track has been abusing these substances since he was in high school, so the idea that he can suddenly break the addiction cycle is a high bar to set in my opinion.

I mean do not get me wrong, I really do hope that he is successful because he has two small children to care for, but working on all of this while living with his ever ready to enable, excuse making parents, seems like a recipe for disaster.

Now why is Track Palin's attorney talking about moving his case to a Veterans Court in Anchorage?

Jordan Loewe and Track Palin, Before all the hitting started.

Courtesy of ADN: 

Track Palin, the 27-year-old son of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, may face criminal domestic violence charges in a special court for military veterans. 

Palin, a U.S. Army veteran, was arrested in Wasilla in January after what police described as a drunken altercation with a woman at his family's home on Lake Lucille.

Of course we all know that the woman is in fact Jordan Loewe Track's fiance, and now soon to be baby mama.

The article goes on to describe the events of that night in January which I think all of us here are pretty familiar with, including all of the hitting and kicking, and then lists the charges against Track: 

Track Palin was charged with three misdemeanors: fourth-degree domestic violence assault; interfering with a report of domestic violence; and fourth-degree weapons misconduct.

The article also points out that there was a "no contact" order given by the courts which Jordan tried to have lifted, though it apparently stayed in place.

Of course since Jordan is now pregnant we will assume that Track ignored that guideline as well.

The next question to ask is why does Track's attorney think this is a good idea for Track?

Here are the prerequisites for having the case moved to the Veterans Court according to their website:

The veteran must reside in the Municipality of Anchorage. 

• The veteran must be eligible for VA services, as defined by federal law and con firmed by the Veterans Administration. 

• The veteran must be charged with a criminal offense. A veteran charged with a felony offense will be considered on a case by case basis to ensure public safety. Considerations will include the seriousness and the class of the current offense, and offender’s criminal history. 

• The veteran must voluntarily agree to waive his or her right to a speedy trial while they participate in Anchorage Veterans Court. 

• The veteran must have no other pending cases in district or superior court. All open cases must be heard at Anchorage Veterans Court hearings. 

• The veteran must have a treatment need (related to the criminal conduct charged) that the VA can address through one of its programs in order to participate in the Veterans Court Program.

Well first off Track does NOT reside in Anchorage which should immediately make him ineligible, though according to the ADN article the court has the ability to make exceptions to that rule for special circumstances.

Also according to ADN Track would have to plead guilty, or no contest, to at least one of the charges in order to qualify for this program, but he could receive a lesser sentence if he agrees to a treatment program. (Aha!)

I have also been told that these court proceedings are open to the public so there would be no expectation of a media blackout.

My guess is that the Palins know that Track is screwed if he goes to regular court and that this Veterans Court is his only hope of avoiding some serious time.

This also explains all of those continuances. They were looking for a way out.

As usual.