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Snooki Fined $500 for Annoying Beachgoers; Judge Calls Star a "Lindsay Lohan Wannabe"
Snooki on July 30, 2010. (Seaside Heights Police Dept.)
SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (CBS/AP) Calling her "a Lindsay Lohan wannabe," a judge fined "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi $500 on Wednesday and ordered her to perform community service after she pleaded guilty to disturbing others on a beach in July.
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Snooki's lawyer said the 22-year-old was under the influence of alcohol when she stumbled around the beach in Seaside Heights, using loud language that disturbed other beachgoers.
Judge Damian G. Murray lectured Polizzi, telling the reality star that being "rude, profane, obnoxious and self-indulgent is not the way to live your life. If this was your idea of a good time, it appears your recent celebrity has affected your judgment."
The judge also questioned whether Polizzi had staged the event for the show. Cameras were rolling as she stumbled around the beach on July 30.
"It was not scripted, sir," Polizzi replied.
Her lawyer, Raymond Raya, told the judge that on July 30, Polizzi was stumbling around the beach, and at one point, ran toward the ocean with her friends calling her to come back. She did not want to, and defiantly sat down on the sand, Raya said. A crowd that quickly swelled to 300 surrounded her, yelling things - all while MTV cameras were rolling.
But the lawyer said the 22-year-old was rattled that day by the constant presence of cameras, a crowd trailing after her, and of course, the drinks. All which made the star disturbingly loud, eventually getting fined.
"Judge, this was a bad day," he said. "I think we all have those days."
As part of a negotiated plea deal, Polizzi pleaded guilty to one count of disturbing the peace. Charges of disorderly conduct and criminal annoyance of others were dropped. The judge fined her $500, plus $33 in court costs, and sentenced her to two days of community service.
Outside the courtroom, Raya said the judge's comparison of Polizzi to the oft-arrested Lohan was unwarranted and unfair.
"This is what I would say is an anomaly in an otherwise well-lived life," he said.
Polizzi did not speak to reporters as she raced to a white sport utility vehicle outside the court and sped away.
But on her Twitter profile, she wrote afterward, "Ah never again! So scary ... thank you judge for understanding, I'm very thankful for that!"
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