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Mel Gibson Pleads 'No Contest' to Battery Charge
via EOnline [muted] livestream
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via EOnline [muted] livestream
Mel Gibson walked out of the LAX Courthouse a free and innocent man this afternoon, according to his lawyer and California law, thanks to what's known as a "West Plea." In other words, Gibson agreed to take punishment -- but no jail time -- in return for not admitting guilt thanks to a prerequisite set by the court in 1970's People v. West (later cited in the 1997 Mark Bradford murder trial.Oskena Grigorieva, a Russian musician and mother of Gibson's 3-year-old daughter Lucia (over whom the ex-lovers remain embroiled in a custody battle), alleged that Gibson harassed her in an "extremely violent" way last year.
The charges could have spelled jail time for Gibson but he now walks with 3 years probation (we'll see if Mel can behave for three whole years), 16 hours community service and about $600 in fines.
Word of the plea bargain leaked earlier this week (apparently infuriating the DA) and Gibson was formally charged this morning, according to reports.
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