Mel Gibson reportedly gets plea deal with no jail time

By: Jessica Derschowitz
Topics: News ,; Celebrity

Mel Gibson attends The Hollywood Reporter's and the Mayor of Los Angeles' Oscar Nominees' Night on March 4, 2010, in Los Angeles.

(Credit: Getty)

(CBS/AP) Actor Mel Gibson has made an agreement with prosecutors for a plea deal stemming from his domestic arrest last year, TMZ is reporting Wednesday, and the actor could avoid jail time.

Sources in the Los Angeles County District Attorney office told the website that Gibson will appear in court on Friday and plead no contest to a reduced charge of misdemeanor battery on his former girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

Pictures: Mel Gibson

A source with knowledge of the case but who is not authorized to speak publicly told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity the deal will involve counseling but no jail time.

The person says prosecutors have not yet announced a decision on whether to charge Grigorieva with extortion, which Gibson has been seeking..

The actor-director's attorney, Blair Berk, said Gibson sought the plea agreement after prioritizing the interests of his children, including an infant daughter with Grigorieva. The Oscar-winner, 55, was accused of domestic violence against Grigorieva. The pair have been engaged in a very public and bitter custody fight over their 16-month-old daughter, Lucia.

The actor's lawyer, Blair Berk, released a statement to the website, saying, "I know from almost 20 years as a criminal defense lawyer that sometimes justice can come for a client at too high a personal price. That is particularly so for Mel, whose right to due process can only be exercised in this case with an enormous media circus attached."

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by lamboflife March 10, 2011 12:22 PM EST

This is all very sad. It's amazing that nobody seems to have a problem with the fact that Gibson's rants were not meant for public consumption. These were comments that were leaked out through unethical means. It seems to me that political correctness reigns, no matter how that information is obtained. And, for someone who thinks that MG is the worst actor in recent history, you sure seem to be following this story carefully to make two comments on him. If I don't like an actor, I don't follow anything concerning him/her-not their movies OR THEIR PRIVATE LIFE! This is all about watching the mighty fall over a woman whose credibility is questionable at best-so much so that two anti- domestic violence organizations chose not associate with her.

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by lamboflife March 10, 2011 12:26 PM EST: There should be a NOT in front of associate-my own correction.


by leftfreedomring March 9, 2011 5:34 PM EST: Mel Gibson and O J Simpson are just alike. Overprivlidged celebrities with a violent streak, gutless cowards who beat up on women.
This POS will end up killing, just like OJ.; Reply to this comment

by mullenplyr March 9, 2011 4:02 PM EST

Quit watching their shows and movies....

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by leftfreedomring March 9, 2011 5:36 PM EST: I never did. Gibson is the worst actor in recent history.


by ald0868 March 9, 2011 4:00 PM EST: And how many tax dollars did this whole investigation take?! What a joke...and everyone wonders why this country is in the shape it's in! Hopefully this moron will get his pay back in other ways...it obviously won't be through our judicial system!; Reply to this comment


by guest173 March 9, 2011 3:33 PM EST: jails are too crowded over there anyway. I hope he learns a lesson from this but it may take more than this slap on the wrist to really sink in to stop being abusive to people especially women; Reply to this comment


by pragmatist1 March 9, 2011 3:14 PM EST: Many non-celebs get the same type of bargain. I don't think plea deals should be banned from our system. The victims never get a plea deal.; Reply to this comment


by tsigili March 9, 2011 2:28 PM EST: You expected something different? Celebs only do jail, after many, many offenses, and then only tokenism, to stifle the outcry from the public.; Reply to this comment


by VA_Jill March 9, 2011 2:20 PM EST: Right. Just because he's Mel. If he were John J. Nobody he'd be sitting in the slammer.; Reply to this comment

by nellpost March 9, 2011 2:16 PM EST

Good. I hoped his money grubbing former girlfriend wouldn't win on these obviously trumped up charges... My son was involved with a russian woman who was out for his money and a green card. Really, there are unethical women in our world.

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by leftfreedomring March 9, 2011 5:32 PM EST: Yea and that female cop who pulled him over deserved to be called "sugarT*&(%"
Mel is a loose cannon and he will wind up killing someone - either by drunk driving or beating a girl friend todeath. Just lik OJ.
Gibson is an Anti-Semetic POS.


by bradkt1 March 9, 2011 1:51 PM EST: Mel should thank Charlie Sheen and Loindsay Lohan for taking the attention off of him so he could get a sweetheart deal from the prosecutors.; Reply to this comment