A Las Vegas lawyer accused of showing up to court drunk in August has entered an in-patient alcohol and drug treatment facility in California, according to the State Bar of Nevada.

Defense attorney Joseph Caramagno, 41, originally denied being under the influence of alcohol during a court appearance in front of District Judge Michelle Leavitt.

But on Thursday, the State Bar issued a news release saying Caramagno had entered a rehabilitation facility.

In addition, court records show Caramagno's sister and father have told the State Bar that he has a drug and alcohol problem.

"On Aug. 11, the Office of Bar Counsel received an e-mail from Mr. Caramagno's sister, Denise Caramagno, wherein she informed the State Bar of Nevada that, in contemplating any treatment program for her brother, to note that Mr. Caramagno also has a substance abuse problem in addition to his alcohol abuse issue," Glenn Machado, an attorney for the State Bar, wrote in court filings.

Joseph Caramagno showed up to court nearly two hours late and was slurring his words during the kidnapping trial of his client, Dale Jakuchunas, in Leavitt's courtroom.

Caramagno denied he was under the influence, saying "I'm as sober as a judge."

But Leavitt ordered Caramagno to undergo a breathalyzer test in open court. His blood-alcohol level was 0.075 percent.

In Nevada, it is illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher.

Leavitt subsequently declared a mistrial in the case.