Tatum O’Neal: Those Cops Saved Me June 3, 2008

Tatum O’Neal feels saved by the officers who arrested her Sunday in New York for allegedly buying cocaine near her home.

“I’m still sober!” the 44-year-old Paper Moon Oscar winner proclaimed to the New York Post. “Just when I was about to change that and wreck my life, the cops came and saved me. I was saved by the bell, by the guys in the 7th precinct.”

O’Neal made an illicit purchase at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday on Clinton Street, Det. Martin Speechley, New York City Police spokesman, confirmed to PEOPLE. She was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.

“There’s no excuse for what I did,” she told the Post. “I lost my Scottish terrier, Lena. That seemed to set me off.

The daughter of actor Ryan O’Neal and the ex-wife of John McEnroe, O’Neal told PEOPLE in 2002 she was abandoned by her drug-abusing mother, actress Joanna Moore, at age 7 and began using drugs by 14. She moved eventually from marijuana, Quaaludes and cocaine to heroin. The actress chronicled her struggle with addiction in her 2004 memoir, A Paper Life. She completed rehab in 1996.

O’Neal told the Post that her dog’s death three weeks ago rekindled the grief she felt after her mother died in 1998. The dog “was the fabric of our family. We had to let her go to heaven. My daughter and I had to put her down. It was too horrible for words. I couldn’t get out of it. I was going to my psychiatrist. I was doing everything I could do. I have the disease of alcoholism. It’s lifelong. I treat it every day by going to my 12-step program.”

From O’Neal’s description, the 18 hours she spent behind bars wasn’t that bad.

“I slept on a mattress with a couple of ladies because I was tired. And they were nice! And I thought the thing that was cool about New York, no special treatment. No special cell,” she told the Post. “I’m eternally grateful, as sort of grim as the situation was, that I didn’t get to do what my disease was telling me to do.”

O’Neal is due back in court July 28.

Bridgitte Bardot Found Guilty June 3, 2008

PARIS, France (AP) — A Paris court on Tuesday convicted Brigitte Bardot of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying France.

 

The court also handed down a $23,325 fine against the former screen siren and animal rights campaigner.

A leading French anti-racism group known as MRAP filed a lawsuit last year over a letter she sent to then-Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. The remarks were published in her foundation’s quarterly journal.

In the December 2006 letter to Sarkozy, now the president, Bardot said France is “tired of being led by the nose by this population that is destroying us, destroying our country by imposing its acts.”

She was referring to the Muslim feast of Aid el-Kebir, celebrated by slaughtering sheep.

French anti-racism laws prevent inciting hatred and discrimination on racial or religious or racial grounds. Bardot had been convicted four times previously for inciting racial hatred

Lindsay Lohan Sued Over Alleged Fur Coat Theft May 20, 2008

The fur is still flying in the case of Lindsay Lohan and the missing mink coat: Now the actress has been slapped with a lawsuit accusing her of taking the fur without permission.

Masha Markova, 22, claims that the Mean Girls star took her $12,000 golden sheared mink coat when they were both at the New York City nightclub 1Oak in January, the Associated Press reports, citing papers filed in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court.

Markova, a New York college student, says she was flipping through a magazine and found a photo of Lohan wearing her coat. “It was my coat. It was no doubt,” she told the New York Post.

The coat reportedly was returned to her by the club in February.

There was no immediate comment from Lohan’s reps on the lawsuit.

Singer Taylor Dayne Arrested for DUI May 16, 2008

Pop singer Taylor Dayne is set to face a DUI charge in a Beverly Hills, Calif., court on June 2.

Dayne was arrested on March 6, police records show. The 46-year-old singer, who shot to fame with her 1988 hit “Tell It to My Heart,” was taken into custody at 1 a.m. after failing field sobriety tests.

Seven hours later, Dayne (real name Leslie Wunderman) was released after posting $5,000 bail.

“We intend to vigorously defend this case,” said Dayne’s attorney, Scott Spindel. “Her blood alcohol was below the legal limit.” Dayne was formally charged on April 16, to which she pleaded not guilty.

Britney Spears Gets In Another Car Accident May 14, 2008

Britney Spears was involved in a minor car accident Tuesday afternoon, when she rear-ended a red Ford Explorer in Beverly Hills.

“I think she was just distracted,” said a witness. “She just tapped the other car in front of her.”

Spears, 26, was at the wheel of her white Mercedes-Benz SL65 when she left her Studio City home for an afternoon drive. Shortly thereafter, she rear-ended the SUV.

Her bodyguard, who was sitting shotgun, got out and apparently gave a business card to the other driver, a female. Police were not involved.

Witnesses say the driver of the Explorer followed Spears back to her gated community to exchange information, apparently suggested by the bodyguard to avoid press attention.

Spears was involved in a fender bender in L.A. just last month on April 12.

Scott Weiland Released From Jail After Serving Only 10 Hours May 13, 2008

Former Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland was released from a Van Nuys, Calif., jail Monday evening – less than 10 hours after he turned himself in to police following his DUI conviction.

Weiland, 40, who had been sentenced to serve eight days in jail for the offense – his second DUI – after pleading no contest following a Nov. 11 arrest, was allowed to leave the jail at 6:54 p.m. Monday, according to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Web site.

He had surrendered at 8:55 that morning.

As part of his sentence, Weiland is also required to complete an 18-month alcohol education class and pay nearly $2,000 in fines.

Scott Weiland Checks Into Jail May 13, 2008

Former Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland checked into a Van Nuys, Calif., jail on Monday to serve eight days for a second DUI conviction.

Weiland surrendered at 8:55 a.m., according to the sheriff’s inmate Web site.

On April 28, the singer was sentenced to the jail term after he pleaded no contest to DUI following a Nov. 11 arrest. He was also ordered to complete an 18-month alcohol education class and pay nearly $2,000 in fines.

Weiland, 40, has run afoul of the law numerous times over the years: He was convicted of DUI after a 2003 arrest in Hollywood, arrested on domestic-violence charges in 2001, and jailed for drug offenses in the 1990s.

On April 1, Velvet Revolver band members announced they were splitting with Weiland, citing his “increasingly erratic” behavior.

Meanwhile, Weiland has reunited with his previous band, the Stone Temple Pilots.

His lawyer did not respond to calls for comment.

Hulk Hogan’s Son Gets 8 Months in Jail May 11, 2008

CLEARWATER, FL — Nick Bollea, the 17-year-old son of wrestler Hulk Hogan, was sentenced to eight months in jail today after he entered an “open plea.”

The plea left his sentencing completely up to Judge Phillip Federico. This also gave the Graziano family the opportunity to testify on how the crime has affected their lives.

“What Al-Qaeda couldn’t do to my son, (Bollea) did,” Edward Graziano, the father of the victim, said.

“He destroyed my son’s future”; “I had high hopes and dreams for him.”

Part of the plea agreement was a cap on Bollea’s jail and probation time, which was recommended by the Graziano family. Even though the charges carried a maximum of five years in jail, members of the Graziano family recommended six months in county jail. The exception was Edward Graziano, who asked for one year.

“I’ll never be able to say I’m sorry enough” said Bollea when given his chance to talk.

Other terms of Bollea’s sentence are as follows:
 
5 years of probation
500 hours of community service
Drivers license revokation for 3 years
Pay investigation and court fees
Adjudication was withheld

Nick was behind the wheel of his Toyota Supra when he lost control and slammed into a tree near downtown Clearwater last August.

The accident seriously injured both Hogan and his passenger, John Graziano, who remains in a coma.

Since the crash, Nick lost sponsorships in a racing sport called, “drifting”, which he has a professional license to participate in.

ABC Action News also obtained footage of Linda Bollea, Nick’s mother, engaging in illegal street racing.

The racing footage showed Linda Bollea alongside another car in a Mercedes S600 with her daughter Brooke as a passenger.

Rapper DMX held on animal cruelty, drug charges May 11, 2008

(CNN) — Rapper DMX was arrested Friday on drug and animal cruelty charges after attempting to barricade himself inside his Arizona home, sheriff’s deputies said.

Friday morning’s arrest was rapper DMX’s second brush with the law this week, authorities said.

DMX, 37, whose real name is Earl Simmons, faces seven misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and four felony drug possession charges, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

He was apprehended at his home in Cave Creek, Arizona. A news release from the office also said deputies were serving a search warrant at the Mayo Clinic in nearby Scottsdale, Arizona, involving possible fraud charges involving the rapper.

According to sheriff’s deputies, five pit bull mix puppies were taken from the rapper’s home by an animal control unit and will be taken to to a jail where they will be cared for by female inmates.

In August, deputies raided DMX’s home and seized 12 pit bulls and pit bull mixes after receiving a report that the animals were being abused. No arrests were made at the time; authorities said that some of the dogs had apparently not been fed or watered but that there was no evidence of dogfighting.

The carcasses of three dogs were found partially buried on the property in August, and one of the dogs may have been burned, the sheriff’s office said.

“A guy like this DMX character, with all his money and fame, has no excuse for not providing proper care for his animals,” Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Friday.
In August, the rapper’s lawyer, Murray Richman, said his client had been on tour and had a caretaker was watching his dogs. He said the caretaker had fed and watered the dogs but not brought them in from Arizona’s summer heat.

He said DMX was upset about the treatment of the dogs, which he sometimes features in his music videos.

After a search warrant was served about 3 a.m. Friday, officials said, deputies found weapons and drugs, leading to the drug charges.

They said the rapper — who rose to fame in the 1990s with a string of platinum records and movie appearances — attempted to barricade himself in his bedroom but eventually came out, offered no further resistance and was booked into jail.

County Attorney Andrew Thomas said the rapper’s celebrity status will not change how he’ll approach the case.

“We are handling this case as we would any other incident of alleged animal cruelty,” Thomas said.

Friday’s arrest is one of many brushes with the law DMX has had.

On Wednesday, he was arrested on charges of racing on a highway after speed cameras on a Phoenix-area freeway caught him going 114 mph, CNN affiliate KPHO reported. He was booked on charges of racing on a highway, reckless driving, two counts of endangerment and three counts of criminal speed and driving on a suspended license.

DMX faced a 1999 animal cruelty charge in Teaneck, New Jersey, that was dismissed after the performer agreed to accept responsibility and record public service announcements for an animal rights group.

The August raid came the same week that former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty to bankrolling and running a dogfighting ring in Virginia

Hulk Hogan’s Son Enters ‘No Contest’ Plea May 9, 2008

Terry “Hulk” Hogan’s 17-year-old son, Nick Bollea, entered a plea of “no contest” in a Florida courtroom Friday on charges of felony reckless driving.

The charges stem from the August 2007 car crash that left his friend, passenger John Graziano, critically injured to this day.

As part of the plea agreement, Bollea’s attorneys asked that their client not serve more than one year in county jail and five years of probation.

Without the plea arrangement, Bollea could have faced up to five years in state prison.

The sentencing portion of the hearing began immediately following Nick’s plea, which streamed live on TMZ.com.

Hulk Hogan (real name: Terry Bollea), his daughter Brooke and his estranged wife Linda were all present and seated near one other in the Clearwater, Fla., courtroom.

Prosecution and Family Speak
During the sentencing portion of the hearing, prosecutors presented, among other evidence, the statements of 12 witnesses who claimed Bollea was drag racing on wet roads at the time of the accident as well as records of his being ticketed for speeding in the past.

Ed Graziano, father of John Graziano, then made an emotional statement to the court: “John was my first born son, and the first chance to carry on my family name.” Describing the day before the accident, he said John “was healthy, he was safe, and he was strong. He was a hero. He was a United States Marine. He was willing to put his life in harm’s way to protect his country’s freedom, [but] what Al Queda could not do to my son, Nick did to my son in minutes.”

Now it is questionable whether John will ever be able to communicate with his family and friends, said his father, adding that that his son’s mental and physical disabilities would be permanent. He also said, “Nick has shown no remorse for what he has done for my son’s life.”

John’s sister, Kristen Carson, also spoke, saying of Nick, “We have never once heard him apologize. He has never said sorry.”

John Graziano’s long-term girlfriend then spoke, talking of dreams of a beach house and having children together – dreams that are now gone.

The Hogans Respond
Nick Bollea spoke on his own behalf, telling the court, “I miss John being around me all the time. I know this has been extremely difficult for the Grazianos, and it has also been extremely difficult to my family, and I feel terrible about it.”

Apologizing for what occurred, he said, “Every single day I think about the accident, and I think about John. There will never be a day in my life that I don’t.”

Hulk Hogan, wearing a black business suit and black ‘do rag, assumed a somber tone, saying, “Our family has been devastated and pretty much torn apart by this situation also. John was like a family member to us.”

Of his own son, he said, “Nick is not the person that he’s been asked to be portrayed on TV. … Nick is a good person. He is kind, he is gentle, he’s compassionate, and he doesn’t have a bad bone in his body. And people fail to realize that Nick is still a 17-year-old child.”

Nick’s sister Brooke said, “I’m not here to smooth things over, or to point fingers … These were two boys, two friends having fun together.”