Famous (And not so famous) Celebrities In Trouble Thread

[GalvestonDuck]

mindy is very sweet

jackson is a celebrity. people think celebrities are gods and can do no wrong. jackson was going to be acquitted no matter the evidence. too many people worship celebrities and think celebrities are better than them. they arent.

[CajunMama]

Singer McCready Charged With DWI in Tenn.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (AP) - Country singer Mindy McCready was arrested early Friday and charged with drunken driving.

McCready was stopped about 3 a.m. in the suburb of Belle Meade by police who said she was speeding, driving 58 mph in a 45 mph zone. The police report said the officer smelled alcohol in the vehicle and McCready performed poorly on a field sobriety test. The report also said she refused to take a breath alcohol test.

McCready is on three years' supervised probation from an incident last year in the suburb of Brentwood. She pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining the painkiller OxyContin at a pharmacy in February 2004, using the name of a friend on the prescription.

She was fined $4,000 and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service work.

McCready's hits include "Ten Thousand Angels" and "A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do)." Neither McCready nor her publicist could immediately be reached for comment.

they should give her a break

Why should they give her a break? Sounds like she's got an addiction. It looks like she should be attending AA/NA meetings.

[southerngale]

rainstorm is just trying to get a rise out of people

[rainstorm]

mindy is very sweet

jackson is a celebrity. people think celebrities are gods and can do no wrong. jackson was going to be acquitted no matter the evidence. too many people worship celebrities and think celebrities are better than them. they arent.

i didnt say she should be acquitted, just her sentence is too harsh

[TexasStooge]

Disc jockey sues Kid Rock over alleged strip club assault

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Court TV/AP) — A disc jockey has sued singer Kid Rock for $575,000, claiming the entertainer punched him at an adult entertainment club in February.

Jerry Campos of Cedar Hill, Tenn., is seeking $500,000 in punitive damages and $75,000 in compensatory damages in the lawsuit filed Monday in Circuit Court.

Nick Stern, a spokesman for Kid Rock, did not return a phone call Wednesday night seeking comment.

On Monday, the performer pleaded no contest to criminal assault and was given a suspended sentence of 11 months and 29 days in jail. He also was ordered to complete eight hours of anger management classes and pay $180 to replace Campos' eyeglasses.

The suit claims the 34-year-old singer struck Campos, 30, on the left side of his face on Feb. 16, during a 3 a.m. altercation at Christie's Cabaret downtown.

Kid Rock, who was in town to perform the song "I Saw the Light" during a memorial service for songwriter Merle Kilgore, was arrested at a nearby apartment where he had been staying.

Born Bob Ritchie, Kid Rock was a Detroit-area hip-hop DJ when he broke through with 1998's "Devil Without a Cause," which successfully married hard rock beats with rap lyrics.

[TexasStooge]

Tom Sizemore denies faking drug test, violating probation

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP) — A prosecutor told a judge Wednesday that actor Tom Sizemore violated his probation by trying to falsify a urine test for drugs.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney said Sizemore, 43, also failed to report to his probation officer, did not advise authorities of his new address and missed drug rehab counseling sessions.

Outside court, Sizemore denied the allegations.

"I have been clean and sober and they are pandering to the city attorney," said the actor, who has appeared in such films as "Black Hawk Down" and "Saving Private Ryan."

If a judge determines he violated probation, Sizemore could be sent to prison for up to three years. The hearing was scheduled to continue Friday morning.

Drug counselor David Aronek testified that Sizemore tried to falsify a drug test in May by using a device called "The Whizzinator," a fillable prosthetic penis designed to beat drug tests.

Sizemore returned two days later for another test and showed signs of "speed psychosis," including rapid speech, profuse sweating and jittery behavior, Aronek said. He said the actor told him he was under the influence of crystal meth.

Sizemore then failed to appear May 31 for still another drug test, Aronek said.

The actor was ordered into drug treatment after pleading guilty to methamphetamine possession following his August arrest at his West Hollywood home.

In 2003, Sizemore was convicted of domestic violence involving his ex-girlfriend, former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. He has been allowed to remain free while appealing that conviction.

[TexasStooge]

'Idol' Contestant Clark Cited for Battery

By Don Thompson, Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Yahoo! Music News/AP) - The "American Idol" contestant who claims to have had an affair with judge Paula Abdul was cited on a misdemeanor battery charge after getting into an alleged food fight with his record company manager at a hotel, Sacramento police said Monday.

Corey Clark, 24, was ordered to appear in Sacramento County Superior Court on July 22 after police were called to Sacramento's Sheraton Grand Hotel on Saturday morning by guests, said police spokesman Sgt. Justin Risley.

Clark and the record company executive, Laura Kathleen Troy, were having breakfast in one of the two rooms they rented when they began arguing over an incident from Clark's Friday night concert at Raley Field in West Sacramento, Risley said.

"It ended up as a food fight, throwing dishes. The injuries were relatively minor," Risley said. "I think it was mutual, a back-and-forth kind of thing."

Police found both Clark and Troy with scratches on their arms and cited Clark for misdemeanor battery. Troy, 34, of Los Angeles, was uncooperative and did not want charges filed, Risley said.

"It wasn't even clear they were in a dating relationship," Risley said. "She handles his business affairs. ... They happened to be having breakfast together.

"They got in a van together and left together. I guess they went back to L.A. together," he said.

Clark's representative, Jed Wallace, did not return a telephone message Monday from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Risley said it is standard police policy to cite and release those charged with misdemeanor battery.

Clark alleges he had an affair with Abdul and that she coached him on how to do better during the 2003 "American Idol" competition, a claim Abdul denies. Clark was dismissed from the Fox network show for not disclosing that he had a 2002 misdemeanor arrest alleging he assaulted his younger sister in Kansas.

[TexasStooge]

Lil' Kim Headed to Big House

By Josh Grossberg, E! Online

NEW YORK - A huge fib is going to cost Lil' Kim a little time in the big house.

The pint-sized rapper, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, was sentenced Thursday to one year and one day in prison and fined $50,000 for her March conviction of lying to a federal grand jury about a 2001 shootout involving members of her entourage outside a New York City radio station.

She will become the first marquee female rapper to serve a prison sentence.

Kim was found guilty Mar. 5 of four counts in all--three counts of perjury and one charge of conspiracy--and had faced a whopping 20 years behind bars. But as a first-time offender, the Grammy-winning "Lady Marmalade" performer wound up with the lesser sentence.

Kim's assistant, Monique Dopwell, who was also found guilty of perjury and conspiracy, and was given the same sentence.

Known for her raunchy raps and low-cut tops, the Queen Bee's trouble dates back to Feb. 25, 2001, when members of her Junior M.A.F.I.A. crew first traded insults, then gunshots with rival hip-hopsters Capone-N-Noreaga and their cohorts outside of New York's Hot 97. More than 30 rounds were fired and one man took a bullet in the back and was seriously injured.

Prosecutors claimed Lil' Kim told some "preposterous lies" about what went down to protect her posse--the most egregious being that she had no relationship with one of the triggermen, Suif "Gutta" Jackson, a longtime friend and bodyguard, and that another, manager Damion Butler, wasn't present at the time of the shooting.

However videotape of the incident contradicted her testimony, showing her standing beside Butler when the gunfire erupted. The two men, who both pleaded guilty to weapons charges, turned state's evidence and testified for the prosecution against her.

Kim's attorney, Mel Sachs, in turn portrayed the diminutive diva as the victim of a government witch hunt against gangsta rappers.

In a big to gain the jury's sympathy, Jones took the stand in her own defense, stressing her rags-to-riches story and accusing Jackson and Butler of trying to get back at her after a falling out. She also claimed prosecutors "badgered" her at the time she made her discredited statements.

But the five-woman, seven-man jury didn't buy it, and the panel returned the guilty verdicts after just two days of deliberations. The jurors did acquit the rapper of the most serious charge of obstruction of justice.

[TexasStooge]

Gucci Mane arrested in Miami on Georgia assault charge

ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) — Rapper Gucci Mane has been arrested in Miami on an Atlanta assault warrant, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Mane, whose real name is Radric Davis, was arrested Friday by Miami authorities on the outstanding police warrant, said lawyer Dennis Scheib. Mane was expected to be sent to Atlanta later this week.

The aggravated assault warrant stems from an altercation earlier this month involving a promoter and people at Mane's record label, Big Cat Records. The promoter was injured and later filed a complaint with police.

Scheib said Mane wasn't involved in the fight.

The lawyer said Mane would have turned himself over to authorities if he and his client had been notified of the warrant.

Mane released his debut album, Trap House, in May. On the day of the album's release, the 25-year-old rapper posted a $100,000 bond on a murder charge in the May 10 shooting death of Henry Clark.

In that incident, five men entered a DeKalb condominium where Mane was visiting and exchanged gunfire with Mane before the men escaped. It is believed Clark was one of the five men who confronted Mane, Scheib said.

Scheib said that case has been put on hold until October, pending a new investigation by authorities.

[TexasStooge]

O.J. Simpson loses DirecTV court case, ordered to pay $25K, fees

MIAMI, Fla. (Court TV/AP) — Former football star O.J. Simpson has a whopping cable bill.

A federal judge has ordered him to pay $25,000 for pirating satellite television signals from DirecTV.

The court granted a motion for summary judgment in a civil suit against Simpson.

In a raid on Simpson's Miami home in 2001, federal agents seized illegal devices known as "bootloaders" that authorities said were used to steal television programming.

Simpson's lawyer says the judge denied Simpson's right to a jury trial. The attorney says legal options are being considered.

[TexasStooge]

Police: Dennis Rodman ticketed twice, accused of theft during charity race

DENVER, Colo. (Court TV/AP) — Even when he's doing good, Dennis Rodman comes across as bad, bad, bad.

The former NBA star was pulled over for speeding twice Tuesday while driving his gold-and-black Lamborghini in a charity rally race, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

In between, Rodman was involved in a minor crash and later accused of stealing a hat in what he says is a "misunderstanding" at a gas station in Glenwood Springs.

"It's been that kind of day for me," Rodman said by phone late Tuesday.

A clerk at the gas station told police that Rodman tried on a cowboy hat, said he liked it, signed an autograph, then put $20 on the counter for gas.

"Unfortunately $40 worth of gas was put in the car, and there was the cost of the hat to consider," Glenwood Springs Police Chief Terry Wilson told the city's Post Independent newspaper.

Rodman said he went into the gas station to prepay for his gas, then signed several autographs. A female employee gave him a hat, he pumped his gas and left.

"The lady gave it to me," he said, adding that he has the gas receipt. "If they want me to pay for the hat, I'll give them double for it."

Rodman's agent, Darren Prince, said he and Rodman learned of the accusations through the media and hadn't been contacted by authorities.

Prince said Rodman also was in a minor crash when a Ford Mustang with people taking photographs and video of Rodman for his sponsor apparently lost control and hit the bumper and the driver's side of Rodman's car. No one was hurt.

Rodman said he believed Colorado authorities were targeting him because of his flashy car and his celebrity status. He said he would fight the citations.

"They're doing their job," he said, "so there's nothing I can do about it."

Then, Rodman added: "Is everyone picking on me today?"

[Swimdude]

Jeez... I was watching VH1's "Wacky Celebrity Kid Names" late one night... And I think there's certain celebrities out there that need to be severely punished for naming their kids things like...

Jermajesty
Pilot Inspektor
Heaven
Goddess
Flower

Etc...

[TexasStooge]

Singer Courtney Love ordered back to court for alleged probation violations

LOS ANGELES, Ca. (Court TV) — Rocker Courtney Love narrowly escaped jail Wednesday when two arrest warrants issued for her were withheld by the two judges who issued them pending a hearing next week on suspected probation violations.

"I'm certainly not happy with what's going on," Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rand Rubin said during a brief hearing Wednesday. Love was not present.

Rubin ordered the singer to appear in court on Aug. 19 on allegations she violated her probation in an assault case after an incident at a Hollywood party where she may have been under the influence of a controlled substance.

A date will be scheduled at next Friday's hearing for another hearing to determine if the 41-year-old rocker violated her probation.

The judge also ordered a report from Love's drug counselor.


Love was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in July following a party at the trendy Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

But there were conflicting accounts, according to the Los Angeles Times, over whether it involved a drug-related incident or a fainting spell.

Love's publicist told the newspaper that one of Love's friends called an ambulance as a precaution, and that she was quickly released from the hospital.

Deputy District Attorney Gina Satriano said outside court that the allegation involved "some sort of narcotic," but would not elaborate. The matter has been referred to the City Attorney's Office for possible misdemeanor prosecution, Satriano said.

Love pleaded no contest in February to misdemeanor assault, for attacking singer Kristin King with a whiskey bottle in April 2004, after she found King asleep on a couch in the home of Love's former boyfriend, Jim Barber.

Love also pleaded guilty on the same day in a separate case for misdemeanor possession of a forged prescription, a charge stemming from an October 2003 incident in which she allegedly broke into Barber's home.

Love pleaded guilty in May 2004 in another case to a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of cocaine on the night of the alleged break-in.

Her sentences included 18 months in an alcohol and drug rehab program, anger management counseling, random drug testing and three years' probation.

In a separate hearing Wednesday at the Beverly Hills courthouse, attorneys appeared before Superior Court Judge Elden Fox, who heard Love's guilty plea in the forged prescription case.

Love is also accused of violating her probation in that case.

Fox issued an arrest warrant for Love, but then held it and ordered her to appear before Judge Rubin on that case, as well.

Love regained full custody of her daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, in January and appeared to be keeping her legal troubles under control.

Earlier this month, Love appeared at a Comedy Central Roast for Pamela Anderson. As she emerged from a Rolls Royce onto the red carpet, according to a New York Times report, Love kissed photographers and loudly announced, "I've been clean and sober for a year!"

Court TV wire services contributed to this report.

[TexasStooge]

Arrest warrant issued for country singer Mindy McCready

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (Court TV/AP) — An arrest warrant issued for Mindy McCready says the country singer has violated her probation on a drug charge, authorities said Wednesday.

A judge signed off on the warrant Monday because McCready left Tennessee without getting permission from her probation officer and didn't report to the officer during July, according to Williamson County Sheriff's officials interviewed Wednesday.

Authorities said this was McCready's second probation violation, which means she cannot post bond this time and likely will have to serve time in jail.

The probation violations stem from charges brought against the singer last year, when she pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining the painkiller OxyContin at a pharmacy in Williamson County. She was fined $4,000, sentenced to three years of supervised probation and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

McCready violated her probation on May 6 when she was charged with driving under the influence in Nashville. She posted a $5,000 bond in Franklin, according to sheriff's records.

A few days later, McCready's boyfriend, William McKnight, was charged with attempted murder after allegedly breaking into her home and beating her.

Last month, McCready was released from a Florida hospital after an apparent suicide attempt at an Indian Rocks Beach hotel, authorities said.

The 28-year-old singer had a No. 1 hit in 1996 with "Guys Do It All the Time."

[TexasStooge]

Hip hop star Cassidy faces murder charges for role in deadly ambush

PHILADELPHIA, Penn. (Court TV/AP) — Rapper Cassidy can face a trial on a third-degree murder charge, but not first-degree murder, for allegedly taking part in an ambush that left one person dead, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Authorities allege that Cassidy, whose real name is Barry Reese, was one of several men who riddled a van with gunfire as it headed down a side street behind the rapper's home in the West Oak Lane neighborhood on April 15. The van was fired upon at least 30 times by four different guns including assault rifles, authorities said.

The victim had been in an earlier altercation with Cassidy and had gone to his home to make peace, a witness previously testified. Killed in the shooting was Desmond Hawkins, 22, authorities said.

Municipal Judge Marsha Neifield concluded that prosecutors only had enough evidence to try Cassidy, 22, on charges including third-degree murder, attempted murder and weapons offenses. Testimony in the case was heard last month but the judge was waiting for ballistics analysis to be completed.

Assistant District Attorney Deborah Watson-Stokes said she would appeal the charge reduction, which allows Cassidy to request to be released on bail. Defendants charged with first-degree murder typically aren't granted bail.

Neifield set bail at $2.5 million but ordered Cassidy to remain behind bars pending the appeal. He has been held without bail since he turned himself in to authorities on June 17.

Cassidy's lawyer, Fortunato Perri Jr., refused to comment after the hearing. He has said his client is innocent of the charges.

The rapper's new CD, "I'm a Hustla," was released June 28. His debut CD, "Split Personality," peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart and spawned the top 10 single "Hotel" featuring R. Kelly.

[TexasStooge]

Rocker Axl Rose sued by former Guns N' Roses bandmates over copyright issues

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Court TV/AP) — Two former members of the rock band Guns N' Roses have sued frontman Axl Rose for allegedly naming himself sole administrator of the group's copyrights.

The suit was filed Aug. 17 in federal court by Slash and Duff, otherwise known as Saul Hudson and Michael McKagan. It accuses Rose of profiting from their revenue shares to the tune of about $500,000 a year.

The suit claims Rose directed the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers to send all publishing royalties to his publishing company, bypassing the band's other partners.

Rose is "suffering an apparent attack of arrogance and ego. He is no longer willing to acknowledge the contributions of his former partners and bandmates in having created some of rock's greatest hits," the suit said.

[TexasStooge]

Ex-wife sues Color Me Badd singer Bryan Abrams

OKLAHOMA CITY (Court TV/AP) — Bryan Abrams, a former singer with the 1990s boy band Color Me Badd, is being sued for $16,000 that his ex-wife alleges he owes in back child support.

Shon Gables, a news anchor for WCBS in New York City, filed the lawsuit and appeared in Oklahoma County District Court earlier this week with the singer's other ex-wife, Ashly Abrams.

The 35-year-old Abrams was one of the founding members of the Oklahoma-based quartet, whose debut album, "C.B.M.," sold more than 8 million copies. Their hits included "I Wanna Sex You Up" and "I Adore Mi Amor."

Gables estimates she has spent $10,000 trying to recover support owed by Abrams, who now works in an Oklahoma City tire store.

Ashly Abrams, a hairdresser, said she helped pay Bryan Abrams' legal fees against Gables until their own three-year marriage ended in 2003. The singer has played no role in the life of their 3-year-old daughter, Ashly Abrams alleges.

Bryan Abrams issued a statement claiming, "My ex-wife's allegations are simply that: 'allegations.' I prefer to tell my side of the story in court, where I am confident that God will see that truth prevails."

Abrams attorney, Floyd Taylor, told District Judge Allen J. Welch that his client didn't know about the child support agreement and is seeking to have it overturned.

Abrams' fiance, Kim Frazier, said he is working on a new recording to follow his 2001 solo album, "Welcome to Me."

Gables says Abrams long ago spent all the money he made during his Color Me Badd days: "He has nothing to show for it, except the ASCAP publishing he co-owns with other members of the group."

[TexasStooge]

Country singer Mindy McCready accused of violating drug probation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music singer Mindy McCready is accused of violating her probation on a drug conviction, authorities said.

A spokeswoman for the Pinellas County sheriff's department said McCready was jailed Friday on an arrest warrant issued earlier this month.

According to the warrant, McCready left Tennessee without getting permission from her probation officer and didn't report to the officer during July.

Authorities said it is McCready's second probation violation, which means she cannot post bail this time and likely will have to serve time in jail.

The probation violations stem from charges brought against the singer last year, when she pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining the painkiller OxyContin. She was fined $4,000, sentenced to three years of supervised probation and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service.

McCready violated her probation in May when she was charged with driving under the influence in Nashville.

A few days later, McCready's boyfriend, William McKnight, was charged with attempted murder after allegedly breaking into her home and beating her.

McCready was released from a Florida hospital last month after an apparent suicide attempt at an Indian Rocks Beach hotel, authorities said.

The 28-year-old singer had a No. 1 hit in 1996 with "Guys Do It All the Time."

[TexasStooge]

Rapper DMX faces prison after violating conditions set by court

NEW YORK (AP) — The rapper DMX faces 60 days in prison after he pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating the conditions of his release following a car crash last year at John F. Kennedy International Airport, officials said.

The rapper, who has acted in films including "Never Die Alone," "Romeo Must Die" and "Cradle 2 the Grave," is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 17.

DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, pleaded guilty last December to reckless endangerment and acknowledged he was taking Valium when he smashed his sport utility vehicle into a gate at Kennedy Airport in June 2004, after telling a parking lot attendant he was a federal agent.

Simmons was sentenced to a conditional discharge, meaning further violations within a year could land him in jail. He also was fined and ordered to forfeit his 1998 Ford Expedition.

Since then, the rapper has been cited twice for traffic violations, once involving driving a car at 104 mph near his Westchester County home one week after his last sentencing. In April, he was involved in an accident in the Bronx with two other vehicles, one of which was an unmarked police car.

On Tuesday, he admitted to Judge Dorothy Chin-Brandt that he had committed the two violations while his driver's license was either suspended or revoked, according to the Queens district attorney's office.

[TexasStooge]

Poison guitarist gets 80 days in jail for driving while intoxicated

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP) — Poison guitarist C.C. DeVille was sentenced to 80 days in jail after pleading no contest to driving while intoxicated.

DeVille, whose given name is Bruce Johannesson, was also sentenced to five years probation, fined $1,000 and ordered to surrender his license for a year, city prosecutors said Monday.

The 43-year-old rocker known for his over-the-top antics hit a parked vehicle Aug. 24 while he was backing out of the driveway of his girlfriend's home, prosecutors said. He allegedly rammed another parked car, deploying his vehicle's air bags and injuring his girlfriend.

He pleaded no contest Friday to a charge of driving under the influence causing injury, authorities said.