You need some Iron, Man! Robert Downey Jr’s son Indio snacks on fast food as he heads out of LAX on Saturday after pleading guilty to felony drug possession

A day earlier Indio’s father Robert was seen sitting right behind his son as he appeared in a Los Angeles, California, court to plead guilty to felony possession of a controlled substance – namely, cocaine.

Indio looked healthy as he was seen publicly for the first time since he was arrested in June in West Hollywood, California, after sheriff’s deputies noticed him smoking a pipe while riding as a passenger in a car.

As Robert is no stranger to facing court – the actor spent time in prison due to his own drug addiction – the look on The Iron Man star’s face was unmistakable.

Heading out: The 20-year-old musician had grabbed a last minute snack from In-N-Out Burger before he boarded his flight, and was accompanied by a male pal for the trip

Filled with sadness and concern, the star held his hand to his face as he watched the proceedings, sitting just behind his son’s lawyer, Blair Berk.

The judge Keith Schwartz was offered a glowing letter from Indio’s treatment facility and was impressed with the musician’s initial focus to get sober.

Judge Schwartz said he thinks the 20-year-old’s father can now be a good influence and told Indio to look to his dad for support.

Accepted responsibility: Indio Downey pled guilty to felony drug possession in Los Angeles, California, on Friday, pictured here with lawyer Blair Berk. His father Robert Downey Jr. was also in court to support him

 

Happy: Addressing the court, Indio said he planned to continue his journey to get sober and thanked the judge

The judge said: ‘You are in a unique situation [and] I think that you’ll be able to be beat this, I certainly hope.

‘I know in life people look up to superheroes – you’ve heard of that before – well I think you might have contact or an inside with at least one superhero, and that’s Iron Man, so I think if you have contact with that person that can give you insight and wisdom to help you make sure you do this well.’

The judge ordered that the actor’s son continue to receive treatment for his drug addiction but ruled he would not face jail time and, if he stays clean and on the right side of the law for 18 months, his conviction will be expunged.

Schwartz also gave the young man a bracelet that said ‘Stay Clean and Sober’ and told him to wear it to remind him daily of his goal. The gift has become a signature of the judge when he deals with drug cases and, in particular, celebrity drug cases.

Second chance: The 20-year-old has been ordered to complete his rehab and if he remains sober and stays out of trouble his conviction will be expunged

 

Addressing the court, Indio said he planned to continue his journey to get sober and thanked the judge.

The actor – who made his silver screen debut at age nine in his father’s 2005 movie Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang – said: ‘Your Honour I appreciate this opportunity and I intend to make the most of it.’

Indio has been receiving treatment for drug addiction after voluntarily entering rehab after his arrest.

This week Indio’s 49-year-old father opened up to Vanity Fair about his own drug issues and now his oldest Indio’s struggles with the same addiction.

Needs a superhero: Judge Schwartz said he thinks the 20-year-old’s father can now be a good influence and told Indio to look to his dad for support, referencing his film character, Iron Man

Sitting down for the magazine’s October edition a very wordy Robert explained how he had inherited his issues from his father and his son now has also taken the same path.

The Iron Man actor said: ‘He’s his mother [musician Deborah Falconer]’s son and my son, and he’s come up the chasm much quicker than we did.

‘But that’s typical in the Information Age; things get accelerated. You’re confronted with histories and predispositions and influences and feelings and unspoken traumas or needs that weren’t met, and all of a sudden you’re three miles into the woods. Can you help someone get out of those woods? Yes, you can. By not getting lost looking for them.’

Being slightly more straight up he continued: ‘Pick a dysfunction and it’s a family problem.’

Following his son’s arrest in June, Robert issued a statement after his son’s arrest praising the deputies’ action.

Talented: Actor and musician Indio made his silver screen debut aged just nine and plays in band The Seems, seen here October 2013

Troubled: But after being arrested numerous between 1996 and 2001 on drug-related charges Robert turned his life around and is now one of Hollywood’s biggest stars

The Hollywood heavyweight said: ‘We’re grateful to the Sheriff’s Department for their intervention, and believe Indio can be another recovery success story instead of a cautionary tale,’ said the Iron Man star who overcame his own own struggles with drug abuse.

‘Unfortunately there’s a genetic component to addiction and Indio has likely inherited it.’

The Avengers star battled drug addiction for years – he actor started doing drugs first with his director father at a young age – and was arrested numerous times, even spending time in a state prison.

Robert announced in July that he was expecting a baby girl with wife Susan later this year. The couple also have a two-year-old son Exton.

Family man: Despite his troubled past, the star is a proud father to both Indio and his son with second wife Susan, two-year-old Exton, seen here on Monday