Seacrest Stalker Pleads Not Guilty

Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr. appeared in court the other day to plead not guilty in the case of stalking Ryan Seacrest. He has been charged with one count of stalking and two misdemeanor counts of violating a court order - which said for him to stay away from Seacrest.

A judge granted the permanent restraining order barring Uzomah to come within 100 yards of Seacrest

Cameron Douglas Pleads GUILTY

The son of Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas admitted in a New York court to possessing heroin and dealing large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Cameron Douglas, 31, was arrested last July at a hotel in Manhattan. If convicted he faces a minimum 10-year prison sentence.

When asked by US District Judge Ronald Ellis if he knew what he was doing was wrong, he said: “Yes, your honour,”

Prosecutors said he has signed a plea agreement, but gave no further details.

In addition to conspiracy to distribute drugs, Douglas pleaded guilty to heroin possession.

The charge stems from allegations that his girlfriend tried to smuggle him the drug in an electric toothbrush while he was under house arrest.

Cameron Douglas appeared with his father and grandfather, actor Kirk Douglas, in the film It Runs in the Family in 2003, a comedy focusing on three generations of a dysfunctional family.

BBC

Britney Spears Appears in Court

Remember so long ago — two years, already? — when old school pop tart Britney Spears was going through an acting-out phase? The shaved head, the unladylike flashings, the British accent, the consorting with Rasputin-like paparazzi? All of that fun ended up with a court turning over her affairs to a conservatorship overseen by her father.

And it worked! Brit went on a world tour, made a lot of money, has a steady boyfriend, and has had no public meltdowns. So when she went back to court Friday, one could be forgiven for thinking the bindings might be loosened a bit. But it was not to be. The changes turned out to be minor.

Superior Court Commissioner Reva Goetz approved a request to donate a dress to charity that Spears wore to the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. The proceeds will benefit relief efforts in Haiti.

The court also granted her father authority to get rid of some of Spears’ property that was used during last year’s “Circus” tour. The items are described as being “valueless” and occupying several storage containers.

No other changes were announced during a brief open session after Spears had left the courtroom.

It was Spears’ first meeting with Goetz since the singer concluded a world tour promoting the “Circus” album last year.

Mercury News

Polanski loses bid to stay out of US Courts

Film director Roman Polanski has lost his bid to be sentenced in a US court without having to return.

He faces an arrest warrant over his conviction, 32 years ago, for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl.

A judge ruled on Friday that Mr Polanski, 76, must be present in court if he wants to resolve the case.

Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza said he was acting to protect “the dignity of the court.” Mr Polanski’s lawyer said he would appeal the ruling.

Mr Polanski was arrested in Switzerland last September over his 1977 conviction for unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl.

He left the US in 1978 before he could be sentenced and has never returned.

BBC

Bristol Palin sues Levi Johnson

Bristol Palin is suing her ex-boyfriend, Levi Johnson for owed back child support. The claim is that Levi owes owed $18,350, based on required payments of $1,750 a month since the December 2008.

Alaskain law requires child support of up to 20% of your income, up to $105k. According to Palin and her attorney, Johnson only paid $4,400 in the 13 months instead of the $22,750 he owed.

Bristol has provided nearly 100 percent of the care and custody for the parties’ child,” her lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, said in the complaint. “However, Bristol has received only limited and sporadic child support payments from Mr. Johnston.”

Balloon dad continues to speak out, maintains innocence

Richard Heene accused Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden of lying and manipulating evidence.

Specifically, he says his wife Mayumi Heene, who he says speaks poor English, never intended to call the incident a hoax to investigators.

“She was asked a question - a yes-or-no format - and the officer asked her, ‘Was this a hoax?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ Well, when we got home, she was bulking up in tears and she has the English-Japanese dictionary in front of her and she said, ‘I thought hoax meant exhibition.’ She gave me a hug, it was an awkward thing for her and she feels really guilty for stating the wrong set of words she wanted to use,” Heene said.

Alderden told NBC’s The Today Show Mayumi Heene’s comments were detailed.

“She took a polygraph, she failed it, she was confronted with the fact that she failed it and she immediately cooperated and gave up all of the facts,” Alderden said.

In November, Heene pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant, which is a Class 3 felony. Last month, a judge sentenced Heene to 90 days in jail, 30 of which would be straight jail time. That sentence begins Monday.

During that sentencing hearing, Heene apologized to the rescue crews and community members who searched for his 6-year-old son Falcon for the Oct. 15 incident. The Heene family had told authorities their son was in a helium balloon. The sheriff’s office said later that it was all a hoax to get media attention.

Friday, Heene said his apology in court was not an admission.

“I’m not going to apologize for a hoax,” he said. “But I’m honest to God sorry that people got involved.”

9 News

Patrick Disney Miller pleads ‘Not Guilty’ on Gun Charges

A 42-year-old grandson of Walt Disney pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal possession of guns and drugs on Wednesday in a California court and was remanded in custody, authorities said.

Patrick Disney Miller, who already has a 2005 conviction for drug possession, was detained on December 9 after police conducted a search of his home in the Los Angeles suburb of Woodland Hills, local prosecutors said.

Miller had been freed on a 35,000 dollar bail, but at Thursday’s arraignment the judge raised the amount to 550,000 dollars and Miller was taken into custody. A new hearing was set for February 4.

Miller was originally charged with a single felony count, but prosecutors Wednesday filed 19 additional felony charges against him.

Police allegedly recovered an arms cache comprising 13 handguns, a rifle and an illegal assault rifle during the search. Various drugs were also found.

As a result of his 2005 conviction, Miller is barred from owning guns or ammunition, according to prosecutors.

Los Angeles Police Department officers obtained the search warrant after running a background check on Miller when they discovered he had allegedly purchased ammunition.

If convicted of all charges, Miller faces more than eight years in state prison. Miller is the youngest child of Diane Disney Miller, who is Walt Disney’s only biological daughter.

Associated Press

Ex-Police Cheif gets 32 months

Calling him arrogant, reckless and without remorse, a judge on Wednesday sentenced a former police chief to 32 months in prison for breaking in to the home of a surrogate mother who was carrying twins for the actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.

“Your attorney began this trial by saying what you did may have been stupid but it wasn’t criminal,” the judge, John M. Solovan of Belmont County Court, told the former chief, Barry P. Carpenter. “I disagree. It was stupid, and it was criminal.”

A jury last month found Mr. Carpenter guilty of receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence and theft in office, though it acquitted him of the three most serious charges of burglary.

He was the police chief of Martins Ferry, Ohio, and prosecutors accused him and two other men, including another police chief, of conspiring to steal items from the surrogate’s home and sell them to tabloid newspapers.

Judge Solovan told Mr. Carpenter, 40, that he gave him the most time — two years — on the felony charge of tampering with evidence because “this offense is more significant than the theft in office because the cover-up is always more significant.”

Robert Halderman compares himself to Tiger Woods’ Mistresses

The alleged extortionist in the David Letterman case is now comparing himself to all the mistresses in the Tiger Woods case. He’s basically saying, that he had information on the extra marital affairs of David Letterman and wanted to be paid to keep that information quiet.

His examples are:

“No criminal charges have been filed against [Rachel] Uchitel,” who reportedly got $5 million from Woods to keep her mouth shut about their longtime relationship and keep private the text messages and voicemails she saved, lawyer Gerald Shargel’s filing says.

“No charges have been filed against Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred, who represented Uchitel during negotiations,” and who “may have even hastened negotiations by scheduling, and then canceling, a press conference at which she ‘planned to make a statement about Rachel Uchitel’s relationship with Woods,’ ” the filing says.

“No charges have been filed against Woods’ wife, Elin Nordegren,” who was reportedly paid $5 million to sign a non-disclosure deal, the filing says.

Bristol Palin Custody Case Will Be Open Court

The custody dispute between Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin, the daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, over their 1-year-old son, Tripp, is playing out in court, and despite Bristol Palin’s efforts to keep the case confidential, a judge last week opened it to the public.

Palin filed a petition for full legal and physical custody Nov. 4. She argued that she and her family already provided almost all of the care and asserted that “Levi is not yet mature enough to take on significant parental responsibilities.”

But Johnston says he wants to share custody of his son and do what he can for Tripp, and Bristol Palin.

Johnston fought to allow the custody matter to unfold in public, saying in a sworn statement that doing so would help put everyone on their best behavior.

Chicago Tribune

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