Sizemore Could Go To Jail

Actor Tom Sizemore faces up to four years in prison for his conviction on misdemeanor charges of harassing, annoying and physically abusing former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss.

But a jury Friday acquitted the 41-year-old star of "Black Hawk Down" and "Saving Private Ryan" of 10 other counts.

Sizemore said he was pleased with the outcome, noting he was acquitted of most of the charges, including most of the serious ones.

"I feel great about it, I really do," he said outside the courthouse.

After stopping briefly to talk to reporters, Sizemore gave a thumb's up gesture as he got into a car and left.

Sizemore was tried on 16 counts of injuring, threatening and harassing Fleiss and vandalism. He was convicted of six counts and one lesser offense within a count on which he was otherwise acquitted.

Deputy City Attorney Robert Cha said the convictions were serious.

"In this case the message is that regardless of your socioeconomic status, and regardless of how the public perceives you, and regardless of celebrity, if there is corporal infliction of violence on a woman and it is supported, we will file it and aggressively prosecute it," Cha said.

The prosecutor added he will make a sentencing recommendation when Sizemore returns to court Oct. 2. In the interim, he said, he will decide what to do about another case in which the actor is accused of seven counts of domestic violence involving another woman.

Fleiss said she was pleased Sizemore was held accountable, adding she knew that coming into court she was in "a minus position because of my past."

She began a two-year relationship with Sizemore shortly after serving 21 months in prison for money laundering, tax evasion and attempted pandering.

"Of course I don't feel good that someone has to go to jail," she told The Associated Press in a telephone interview after the verdicts were announced. "But all I did was tell the truth. In fact I left a whole lot out."

Fleiss, who said she once loved Sizemore deeply, added that now, "I want to pretend I never met him."

During six days of testimony the jury heard angry and obscene messages left by Sizemore on Fleiss' answering machine and accounts of violent fights and of the actor smashing things.

Fleiss, 37, sobbed as she testified her former lover violently abused her.

She said she didn't immediately report the abuse because "I was on parole, the convicted criminal, and he was the all-American guy and could send me back to prison, which was the worst thing that could happen to me."

Sizemore did not testify, but his lawyer portrayed Fleiss as a liar and "pseudo-celebrity" who was trying to extort the actor in some way.

Sizemore, who is free on $100,000 bail, said outside court he is looking forward to getting on with his life.

"I thank all of my fans who continue to be fans," he said. "I would like to put this behind me and do what I have always loved doing, making movies."