Charlie Sheen Going to Jail, Attorney Says
DENVER, Colo. (CBS/AP) Updated 4:30 p.m. EST Charlie Sheen could work at a Colorado theater company by day and spend his nights in jail under a deal that calls for the actor to plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge in his domestic abuse case, an attorney said Monday.
In exchange, prosecutors would drop criminal mischief and felony menacing charges stemming from an argument Sheen had with his wife on Christmas Day at an Aspen home where they were on vacation.
The deal calls for Sheen to serve a 30-day sentence and three months probation, said Yale Galanter, an attorney for Sheen's wife, Brooke Mueller Sheen.
A judge must still approve the agreement. Sheen was expected to appear Monday in an Aspen court.
Sheen, 44, the star of the hit CBS show "Two and a Half Men," previously pleaded not guilty to menacing, criminal mischief and assault charges. The menacing charge carries a prison sentence of up to three years.
During the jail term, Galanter said, Sheen would be released during the day so he can work at Theatre Aspen. He could leave the jail for work at 8 a.m. and would have to return by 8 p.m.
"He's being sentenced to jail, and he's being released for work, thereby, it's work," Galanter said.
Paige Price, the theater's artistic director, said Sheen had agreed to work for free. His duties would include teaching a class for professional actors and possible fundraising for the nonprofit.
Brooke Mueller Sheen approved the deal, Galanter said. She previously had asked prosecutors to drop the charges against Sheen, but they refused, according to the lawyer.
He said prosecutors had offered a deferred sentence, whereby Sheen would plead guilty to a felony and charges would be dropped after two years, which is similar to the way other cases are resolved in Colorado.
Sheen has taken anger management classes and will present evidence showing he has completed a 36-hour course, Galanter said.
"They're both adults, and they have two beautiful babies together. I know they're working on it. I can tell you that, no matter what happens, Charlie and Brooke will always be good friends," he said.
Since the incident, both have completed alcohol rehab programs, and Galanter has said they've been sober for months.