Court Reinstates Howard K. Stern Convictions In Anna Nicole Smith Case

Stern was charged with 11 felonies -- most involving conspiracy to fuel Anna Nicole with drugs. At the end of the trial, the jury convicted Stern of 2 felony conspiracy counts but the judge threw both convictions out on grounds there was insufficient evidence to nail Stern.

A California appeals court just ruled the trial judge was wrong, and sent the case back where the trial judge could now sentence Stern to prison for the 2 felonies.

It's not certain what the trial judge will now do, because there are 4 options:

1. The judge could sentence Stern to years in prison
2. The judge could go as leniently as probation on the felonies
3. The judge could reduce the felonies to misdemeanors
4. The judge could theoretically dismiss the whole case on other legal grounds