Crime sure pays if you're a celebrity!!

[catlover79]

I'll let these articles speak for themselves...it's a family board and I don't want to be banned!!

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan was ordered to spend one day in jail and serve three years probation after pleading no contest to charges of cocaine possession and drunken driving on Thursday.

A California judge also said the 21-year-old actress, who shot to fame as a teenager in Disney movies like "Freaky Friday," must perform 10 days of community service and attend 18 months of an alcohol education program for charges stemming from two arrests in recent months.

"It is clear to me that my life has become completely unmanageable because I am addicted to alcohol and drugs," Lohan said in a statement after the plea deal was announced. "Recently, I relapsed and did things for which I am ashamed. I broke the law, and today I took responsibility."

Lohan, who is in a rehab clinic in Utah, was arrested in May after wrecking her car in Beverly Hills, and in July following a car chase in the Los Angeles area community of Santa Monica.

In both cases, Lohan possessed cocaine, but because the amounts were below .05 grams, she faced misdemeanor charges instead of more serious felony charges, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said.

Following a conference in Beverly Hills, at which Lohan's attorneys entered the pleas, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers said Lohan did not receive any special consideration because she was a celebrity.

Former Los Angeles District Attorney Robert Philibosian, who now works with the law firm Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, called the sentence "normal treatment for anyone."

"It wasn't a felony, and as a condition of her probation, she was ordered into a strict drug treatment program," Philibosian said.

Lohan's attorney entered pleas of no contest to charges of driving with a blood alcohol level over the limit of .08 percent, being under the influence of cocaine and reckless driving. In exchange, two counts of driving under the influence were dropped. A no contest plea is neither an admission of guilt nor a denial.

A Beverly Hills Superior Court judge ordered Lohan to serve four days in jail on the charges, but reduced the sentence to two days and gave Lohan one day of credit for time already served. She must serve the time before January 18.

Lohan's late-night partying began to get her into trouble last year. With her recent arrests, she joined other celebrities like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie who have had brushes with the law.

Her latest films have failed to draw her fans to theaters. Lohan's two recent movies, "Georgia Rule," and "I Know Who Killed Me," were box office bombs.


LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Nicole Richie surrendered to authorities on Thursday to begin serving a four-day sentence for driving under the influence of drugs, but spent a little more than one hour in jail, an official said.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said federal sentencing guidelines dealing with jail overcrowding allowed local officials to reduce the time for Richie and other inmates with similar charges.

Richie, 25, was treated "in the same manner as other inmates with a similar sentence," Deputy Sheriff Maribel Rizo said, reading from a statement.

Richie, the daughter of singer Lionel Richie and a co-star with Paris Hilton on reality TV series "The Simple Life," surrendered to local authorities in the afternoon and was booked, processed and released about one hour and 20 minutes later, Rizo said.

The deputy did not know whether Richie had actually spent any time in a jail cell.

The actress, who is pregnant by her boyfriend, singer Joel Madden of rock band Good Charlotte, was arrested in December 2006 after police spotted her driving the wrong way on a Los Angeles area freeway. She failed a sobriety test and admitted to smoking marijuana and taking the prescription painkiller Vicodin.

Late last month, Richie pleaded guilty, was ordered to spend four days in jail, fined $2,048 and placed on three-years probation.

Richie's plea came roughly one month after Hilton completed her own three-week stint behind bars for violating probation on drunken driving charges.

That case was marked by a media frenzy after Hilton was initially released only three days into her 45-day sentence due to overcrowding issues and concern over her deteriorating medical condition, sheriff's officials said at the time.

Richie surrendered to jail officials on the same day a third troubled Hollywood actress, Lindsay Lohan, pleaded no contest to charges of cocaine possession and drunken driving and was ordered to spend one day in jail.

[Mikado]

I broke the law, and today I took responsibility. <<< Dont you just LOVE that part???

I wonder what the sentence would have been like if Lindsay were Linda Manuel from one of LAs slums? Former Los Angeles District Attorney Robert Philibosian, who now works with the law firm Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, called the sentence "normal treatment for anyone."........Yeah, anyone who's an heir to millions of dollars and who can afford high-powered legal help, at least!

[catlover79]

Let's hear it for the wonderful American judicial system!! Where's EADA Ben Stone (Law & Order) when you really need him!?

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Let's hear it for the wonderful American judicial system!! Where's EADA Ben Stone (Law & Order) when you really need him!?

Well, at least the MAXIMUM sentence for 1rst degree murder there, is more than the TWENTY-FIVE years, that it is, here in Canada!!!

[SBTB Geek]

If it wasn't for the paparazzi no one would have known about this. A lot of us get away with worse.

The girl is truly making an attempt to change. Let's remember prisons and jails are not punishing institutions but correctional.

[coffield3]

I bet there is lots more stuff about her that has been brushed under the carpet that we dont know about.

[Central Perk]

There is always constant complaining about how stars get special treatment, but deals like this are made all the time. I'd like to see some statistics for average people and celebrities to see if there really is that much of a difference.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by Central Perk

There is always constant complaining about how stars get special treatment, but deals like this are made all the time. I'd like to see some statistics for average people and celebrities to see if there really is that much of a difference.

Do you really think that if this were a black kid from the slums who had a hit and run in a stolen car, while carrying hard drugs; that said person would have gotten the same deal as LL? Not bloody likely!!!

[AB]

^ That is so true. Everyone should be treated the same in court but that seldom happens.

[TJL]

Originally Posted by annball1957

^ That is so true. Everyone should be treated the same in court but that seldom happens.

No, it's true. Someone they interviewed today said LiLO recieved the same sentence that anyone else would have.

So basically everyone who gets arrested for back to back DUI and coke posession doesn't go to jail at all!

Then why are the jails so crowded?

[freshprinceofLA]

Damn that's f***** stupid! It's sad now a days that who you are determines your battle with the law IT AIN'T RIGHT

[dawsongirl]

The American Judicial System sucks as a whole, no matter what or who. Murders walk early, repeat offenders get slaps on the wrist, etc. No one ever gets punished for what they do. Kids in school get worse punishment for repeatedly talking in class.

[Karen*]

Outrageous.

[coffield3]

Money rules the world i guess.