stern230logo.jpgHoward K. Stern is a free man!

Stern was expected to be formally sentenced in court Thursday involving the drug conspiracy trial surrounding Anna Nicole Smith's untimely death, but Judge Robert Perry threw out the jury's verdict ... ruling it baseless.

The Playboy cover girl's former manager/companion was found guilty of 2 counts of conspiracy, but not guilty on 7 other charges.

The judge also ruled psychiatrist Khristine Eroshevich was actually acting out of concern for Smith, and sentenced her to just one year of probation and a mere $100 fine for obtaining a Vicodin prescription under a false name.

Anna Nicole Smith died back in 2007 of a drug overdose.