This guy is at rock bottom but keeps digging himself an even deeper hole – how does that even happen? I don’t even understand why he needs “rehab”. There’s no cure for being a douchebag. Boston Herald

The $500,000 champion of CBS’ 2008 season of “Big Brother” flashed big nerve yesterday when his lawyer suggested taxpayers pick up the tab for his drug rehab at Kennedy Health Care Center in New Jersey.

Appearing taken aback, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Leo T. Sorokin assured Adam Jasinski, 32, now awaiting trial in Boston on drug-dealing charges, that this was one argument the fallen reality TV star wasn’t going to win.

“Given that he won $500,000 from ‘Big Brother’ and has not been found indigent . . ,” Sorokin told attorney Valerie Carter, his voice trailing off as his mouth hung open.

An upbeat Jasinski, in court with his mother for a bail-review hearing, informed Sorokin he has secured a grant to pay for his continuing treatment.

“Mr. Jasinski, I think, went through a lot of effort in order to get into the Kennedy Center,” Carter said, adding he has “been pretty busy” cleaning up his act.

Noting the presence of a reporter, Carter told Sorokin she didn’t want to go into detail about Jasinski’s recovery. However, a court official confirmed to Sorokin that Jasinski’s drug screenings have returned negative since he was released from jail last month.

Though Sorokin said he remains “concerned” about Jasinski, he added he was pleased by his determination. “I want you to continue to be sober,” he said.

Jasinski, formerly of Florida, was arrested in North Reading in October allegedly trying to sell thousands of oxycodone painkiller pills to a government informant.

Last month, Matthew McDonald, 26, of Charlestown, who competed against Jasinski on “Big Brother,” also was federally indicted on drug charges. His attorney James Cipoletta told the Herald that while the two men remained friendly, McDonald, a roofer, was not involved in the drug trade.