Bruno Mars got a lucky break in court Friday. AP reports that the pop singer is accepting a plea deal that allows him to pay a fine, serve probation and have a felony cocaine possession charge against him dismissed.
The 25-year old crossed the line in Sept. 2010 when he was arrested in Las Vegas with possession of a controlled substance. Mars performed at the Wasted Space nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino before he was suspected by a bathroom attendant of doing drugs in the men's room. A security guard was alerted and Mars, confronted on the spot, allegedly reached into his jeans and handed over a bag containing more than two grams of cocaine.
The 'Grenade' and 'Just The Way You Are' singer told an officer he had acted foolishly and never tried drugs before in his life. If convicted, Mars could have been sentenced to four years behind bars.
Mars accepted a deal where he will pay a $2,000 fine, perform 200 hours of community service and complete drug counseling. If he has no other run-ins with the law for a year, no conviction will remain on his record.
Fortunately for Mars, this plea agreement allows him to step past the cocaine charge just in time for the 53rd Grammy Awards. He is nominated for seven awards, including best male pop vocal for his hit "Just the Way You Are."
Showing posts with label Case. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Case. Show all posts
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Chris Brown Asks Judge to Remove Restraining Order in Rihanna Beating Case
Chris Brown appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Friday afternoon for a progress report in the Rihanna beating case. His attorney Mark Geragos requested that the judge remove the restraining order against his client, Radaronline.com reports.
The 21-year-old singer has received glowing probation reports stemming from his conviction for felony assault. Brown was sentenced to five years probation and six months of community labor after being found guilty of assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna.
"Out of thousands of probationers, no one has done a better or more consistent job than you have, and I really want to commend you for taking responsibility and actually working diligently to complete all the things the court has required of you," Judge Schnegg told Brown.
Geragos told Judge Schnegg that Brown has completed his 52 week domestic violence counseling and is requesting the existing restraining order against Brown is removed.
"It makes it difficult at award shows and such," the lawyer explained.
While Judge Schnegg did not immediately grant the request, she did suggest a modification to the current restraining order with the approval of Rihanna's attorney.
In Dec. 2010, Brown graduated from his domestic violence class, and proudly tweeted out a photo of his certificate with the words "I'm done with class."
"I have enough self respect and decency to be proud of accomplishing this (domestic violence) class," he tweeted. "Boys run from their mistakes. Men learn from them!
Brown will remain on probation until 2014.
The 21-year-old singer has received glowing probation reports stemming from his conviction for felony assault. Brown was sentenced to five years probation and six months of community labor after being found guilty of assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna.
"Out of thousands of probationers, no one has done a better or more consistent job than you have, and I really want to commend you for taking responsibility and actually working diligently to complete all the things the court has required of you," Judge Schnegg told Brown.
Geragos told Judge Schnegg that Brown has completed his 52 week domestic violence counseling and is requesting the existing restraining order against Brown is removed.
"It makes it difficult at award shows and such," the lawyer explained.
While Judge Schnegg did not immediately grant the request, she did suggest a modification to the current restraining order with the approval of Rihanna's attorney.
In Dec. 2010, Brown graduated from his domestic violence class, and proudly tweeted out a photo of his certificate with the words "I'm done with class."
"I have enough self respect and decency to be proud of accomplishing this (domestic violence) class," he tweeted. "Boys run from their mistakes. Men learn from them!
Brown will remain on probation until 2014.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Bruno Mars Dodges A Bullet in Cocaine Case
Bruno Mars has cut a deal with the Clark County District Attorney's Office, in which Mars will not have a conviction on his record for his Las Vegas cocaine arrest ... TMZ has learned.
Sources tell TMZ ... the D.A. has agreed to a "deferred adjudication" -- translation ... if he stays out of trouble for 12 months and does a little community service, it's like nothing ever happened.
Mars was arrested in September at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, after a bathroom attendant ratted him out and told security there was a man in a stall doing drugs.
Under the deal, which attorney Blair Berk orchestrated with prosecutors, Mars will do 200 hours of community service and undergo private counseling.
At the end of the 12-month period, the felony will be officially dismissed.
Sources tell TMZ ... the D.A. has agreed to a "deferred adjudication" -- translation ... if he stays out of trouble for 12 months and does a little community service, it's like nothing ever happened.
Mars was arrested in September at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, after a bathroom attendant ratted him out and told security there was a man in a stall doing drugs.
Under the deal, which attorney Blair Berk orchestrated with prosecutors, Mars will do 200 hours of community service and undergo private counseling.
At the end of the 12-month period, the felony will be officially dismissed.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
‘Big Brother 9’ Champ Gets Four Years In Drug Case
The winner of the CBS reality show “Big Brother 9” appealed to a judge for leniency Friday, saying he wanted “a chance to get out and find out who I really am,” before he was sentenced to four years in federal prison on drug trafficking and tax charges.
U.S. District Court Judge William Young handed down the sentence while Adam Jasinski, 32, of Delray Beach, Fla., listened and nodded while his parents quietly sobbed. Jasinski was arrested for attempting to sell 2,000 oxycodone pills in October 2009 to a witness cooperating with the government in North Reading, Mass.
“You were drug trafficking, and you were drug trafficking until they caught you,” said Young. “You got to a position where you thought that the rules didn’t apply to you.”
The sentence came after Jasinski asked Young for a lighter sentence or time served. Jasinski pleaded guilty in October to possession with attempt to distribute oxycodone and failure to file a tax return for 2008, the year he won the $500,000 “Big Brother” prize.
“I’m sick. I won $500,000 and I blew it all,” said an emotional Jasinski, who also has admitted to being treated for bipolar disorder and drug addiction. “I apologize. I’m a mess…Give me a chance to get out and find out who I really am.”
Jasinski’s lawyer, Valerie Carter, sought for a sentence of around 10 months, or time served.
Young told Jasinski he had shown progress in seeking treatment for his drug addiction and his mental illness. Young said that’s why he opted not to adopt Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Ricci’s recommendation for a 4 1/5 year prison sentence.
But Young said it was the second time Jasinski was convicted on drug charges. He was sentenced to five years’ probation after his previous conviction in New York.
Jasinski had faced a maximum 14 years on the drug charge and one year on the tax charge.
After Jasinski won “Big Brother 9” in April 2008, Ricci said Jasinski failed to file an income tax return and failed to pay taxes owed on the prize money. The series features contestants who live under constant surveillance and vote once a week to evict each other.
U.S. District Court Judge William Young handed down the sentence while Adam Jasinski, 32, of Delray Beach, Fla., listened and nodded while his parents quietly sobbed. Jasinski was arrested for attempting to sell 2,000 oxycodone pills in October 2009 to a witness cooperating with the government in North Reading, Mass.
“You were drug trafficking, and you were drug trafficking until they caught you,” said Young. “You got to a position where you thought that the rules didn’t apply to you.”
The sentence came after Jasinski asked Young for a lighter sentence or time served. Jasinski pleaded guilty in October to possession with attempt to distribute oxycodone and failure to file a tax return for 2008, the year he won the $500,000 “Big Brother” prize.
“I’m sick. I won $500,000 and I blew it all,” said an emotional Jasinski, who also has admitted to being treated for bipolar disorder and drug addiction. “I apologize. I’m a mess…Give me a chance to get out and find out who I really am.”
Jasinski’s lawyer, Valerie Carter, sought for a sentence of around 10 months, or time served.
Young told Jasinski he had shown progress in seeking treatment for his drug addiction and his mental illness. Young said that’s why he opted not to adopt Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Ricci’s recommendation for a 4 1/5 year prison sentence.
But Young said it was the second time Jasinski was convicted on drug charges. He was sentenced to five years’ probation after his previous conviction in New York.
Jasinski had faced a maximum 14 years on the drug charge and one year on the tax charge.
After Jasinski won “Big Brother 9” in April 2008, Ricci said Jasinski failed to file an income tax return and failed to pay taxes owed on the prize money. The series features contestants who live under constant surveillance and vote once a week to evict each other.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
D.A. in Mel Gibson Case -- No Decision Yet
The L.A. County District Attorney says he still hasn't decided whether to file domestic battery charges against Mel Gibson.
D.A. Steve Cooley says the case is "actively under review." Prosecutors met with Mel's lawyers -- Blair Berk and Jim Asperger -- yesterday. Law enforcement sources tell us the meeting had been planned for weeks.
Well-placed sources in the case tell us ... the D.A. has not made any decision on whether to file charges, partly because Mel's case is directly tied to the extortion investigation of Oksana Grigorieva, and that case has not yet been presented to the D.A.
And law enforcement sources tell us ... if the D.A. files criminal charges against Oksana, it could so compromise her credibility that any case against Mel would be futile.
Bottom line ... the D.A. can't make a filing decision until both cases are presented reviewed.
D.A. Steve Cooley says the case is "actively under review." Prosecutors met with Mel's lawyers -- Blair Berk and Jim Asperger -- yesterday. Law enforcement sources tell us the meeting had been planned for weeks.
Well-placed sources in the case tell us ... the D.A. has not made any decision on whether to file charges, partly because Mel's case is directly tied to the extortion investigation of Oksana Grigorieva, and that case has not yet been presented to the D.A.
And law enforcement sources tell us ... if the D.A. files criminal charges against Oksana, it could so compromise her credibility that any case against Mel would be futile.
Bottom line ... the D.A. can't make a filing decision until both cases are presented reviewed.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Chris Simms Loses Bid in Pot Case
Tennessee Titans backup quarterback Chris Simms can't keep the admissions police say he made about smoking marijuana from being used in his drugged-driving case, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Simms' statements were obtained legally, and police were justified in stopping and arresting him early on July 1, Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon ruled.
Simms, a son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, and his lawyers were excused from a court appearance Tuesday. The lawyers didn't immediately return phone calls afterward.
Police said Chris Simms was stopped for making an erratic turn near a police sobriety checkpoint in a nightlife-oriented part of Manhattan around 1 a.m., with his pregnant wife and two other people with him.
An officer approaching Simms' Mercedes-Benz was confronted with a marijuana smell so strong the officer got a headache and his tongue went numb, and he found Simms behind the wheel in a "zombie"-like state, the officer testified at an October hearing.
Simms told the officer he'd been "smoking marijuana in the car earlier," taking four puffs, but there wasn't any left, according to a court document. He remained "very out of it" after his arrest, falling asleep on a police station holding-cell floor and having to be roused by a fellow detainee to take an alcohol-level test, according to the officer's testimony.
Simms, however, told The Tennessean newspaper in August he "definitely didn't say" he had been smoking marijuana. He wasn't tested for drugs, and alcohol tests came back negative.
His lawyers challenged the legality of the checkpoint and the basis for his arrest, among other arguments. The judge ruled against all of them and noted the officer's description of Simms' woozy condition.
"There is no question that [the officer] had probably cause to arrest defendant, given these observations," Solomon wrote.
Simms, 30, has pleaded not guilty to driving while impaired. The top charge against him is a misdemeanor that carries the potential for a year in jail if he's convicted.
He's due back in court Jan. 21. He got a last-minute pass on Tuesday's court date because his lead lawyer had trouble traveling from Denver, Colo., in the wake of a weekend snowstorm there.
Simms has a 7-9 record in his 16 NFL career starts. A third-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003, he ruptured his spleen in a 2006 game against the Carolina Panthers and had to undergo emergency surgery.
After Tampa Bay released him, he went to Tennessee in 2008, played for the Denver Broncos in 2009 as an unrestricted free agent and then returned to the Titans. The Titans released him in September but then re-signed him in November. He didn't play in any games this season.
Simms' father played 14 seasons with the Giants, leading them to two Super Bowls. He is now a CBS Sports announcer and analyst.
Simms' statements were obtained legally, and police were justified in stopping and arresting him early on July 1, Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon ruled.
Simms, a son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, and his lawyers were excused from a court appearance Tuesday. The lawyers didn't immediately return phone calls afterward.
Police said Chris Simms was stopped for making an erratic turn near a police sobriety checkpoint in a nightlife-oriented part of Manhattan around 1 a.m., with his pregnant wife and two other people with him.
An officer approaching Simms' Mercedes-Benz was confronted with a marijuana smell so strong the officer got a headache and his tongue went numb, and he found Simms behind the wheel in a "zombie"-like state, the officer testified at an October hearing.
Simms told the officer he'd been "smoking marijuana in the car earlier," taking four puffs, but there wasn't any left, according to a court document. He remained "very out of it" after his arrest, falling asleep on a police station holding-cell floor and having to be roused by a fellow detainee to take an alcohol-level test, according to the officer's testimony.
Simms, however, told The Tennessean newspaper in August he "definitely didn't say" he had been smoking marijuana. He wasn't tested for drugs, and alcohol tests came back negative.
His lawyers challenged the legality of the checkpoint and the basis for his arrest, among other arguments. The judge ruled against all of them and noted the officer's description of Simms' woozy condition.
"There is no question that [the officer] had probably cause to arrest defendant, given these observations," Solomon wrote.
Simms, 30, has pleaded not guilty to driving while impaired. The top charge against him is a misdemeanor that carries the potential for a year in jail if he's convicted.
He's due back in court Jan. 21. He got a last-minute pass on Tuesday's court date because his lead lawyer had trouble traveling from Denver, Colo., in the wake of a weekend snowstorm there.
Simms has a 7-9 record in his 16 NFL career starts. A third-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003, he ruptured his spleen in a 2006 game against the Carolina Panthers and had to undergo emergency surgery.
After Tampa Bay released him, he went to Tennessee in 2008, played for the Denver Broncos in 2009 as an unrestricted free agent and then returned to the Titans. The Titans released him in September but then re-signed him in November. He didn't play in any games this season.
Simms' father played 14 seasons with the Giants, leading them to two Super Bowls. He is now a CBS Sports announcer and analyst.
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