Mel Gibson Charged With Misdemeanor Battery

By John Mitchell Posted Mar 11th 2011 04:45PM

Mel Gibson has officially been charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly assaulting Oksana Grigorieva, his former girlfriend and mother to his 1-year-old daughter, Lucia. The actor-director, 55, was charged after months of investigation by sheriff's detectives into a January 2010 incident where Gibson allegedly "willfully and unlawfully" used violence against Grigorieva during a heated argument.

As previously reported, Gibson is expected to accept a plea agreement to resolve the case and is not anticipated to serve jail time.

Earlier this week, Gibson's lawyer, Blair Berk, released the following statement:

I know from almost 20 years as a criminal defense lawyer that sometimes justice can come for a client at too high a personal price. That is particularly so for Mel, whose right to due process can only be exercised in this case with an enormous media circus attached.

Mel's priority throughout all of this has been that the best interests of his young daughter Lucia and the rest of his children be put first in any decisions made. It is with only that in mind that he asked me to approach the District Attorney with a proposal that would bring all of this to an immediate end.

Allegations that Gibson struck Grigorieva surfaced last summer after a series of explosive audio tirades between the actor and the Russian singer surfaced online. The rants contained racist and sexist taunts as well threats of violence. Gibson has not addressed the rants and has kept a low-profile in the months since they surfaced.

After numerous delays in the wake of the bad press surrounding the actor, Gibson's next film, the Jodie Foster-directed dramedy 'The Beaver,' is expected to be released later this year.

Tags: mel gibson, oksana grigorieva

Comments

(19)

Monday 14 March

By GARY

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GET OVER IT ROCK ON MEL

Friday 11 March

By joan

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What a joke! Surely, after this, he is not going to be that bankable in Hollywood. Arrogant POS.

By gailneuman

just bullcrap. He knocked out her tooth, drawing blood also, so it should remain a felony. Who dod he pay off to get the charge lessened???

By Athena

I have loved Mel since he was mad max. He has made some poor choices, I am sooo glad no one else has, hunh Mel. I am not inclined to say "oh, that's it for you". I am sorry that Mel made a poor choice in what he did, been there done that. But now that this nasty thing is behind him and he can concentrate on his children (they will always be loyal Mel) maybe you can give charlie a call and see if he needs another clown in his circus, your ex would fit in just fine.

By Lupe

The only reason this racist, homophobic COWARD pled out is that he knew that Oksana's kid, who was getting ready to testify, would be very credible and would be able to corroborate the story about his bully antics. Gibson surely would have been convicted and would then face a much worse sentence, so he took the usual "only little people get jail" route and he pled out. All this other crap about his rights is just that: crap. He could have gone to trial, but ran from it, because he knew he would face a much steeper price for his antics. For someone who just LOVES to play heroes, real macho men, this guy turned out to be not much more than a pathetic little bully who likes to beat women up because he CAN.

Sunday 13 March

By ANGEL EYES

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I HAVE ALWAYS DISLIKED MEL, WANTED TO WATCH HIM IN BRAVEHEART, BUT COULDN'T STAND LOOKING AT HIM. HE'S A NUT JOB, HE'S A BULLY, HE'S A DRUNK, AND HE'S A PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A MAN. THIS MAN DESERVED TO BE TREATED LIKE ANY MAN WHO BEATS ON WOMEN.

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I agree with Gary. People, people!!! Japan has just had a devestating earthquake, followed by a just as devestating tsunami. Lives have been lost, families gone, children missing. And all you have to see is let's bag on mel. I'm glad you may know where your family members are, thousands don't. Mel has a life, let him live it. NOBODY but him and the baby momma where there. Let's stop and look at the big picture.
I still love ya mel.

I have no sympathy for Mel Gibson at all and feel he should have gotten worse. He has hurt his family to the core and made a mockery of his so called Catholicism. He will not make one cent from me for his movies, hasn't for years. Sad case. My heart goes out to his children from his marriage.

By msp

I saw Mel the other day looking for schools for his daughter and when I saw him, I felt nauseous.

By Sir topham hat

Whitewash, whitewash, whitewash, whitewash, felony to misdemeanor whitewash, whitewash, whitewash, felony to misdemeanor, whitewash, whitewash, whitewash,

Pathetic

By Victoria

Personal opinions on guilt or innocence aside, it's true that it would be impossible for Mel to pursue "due process" without a huge media circus. As a celebrity with children that must be considered (who will no doubt be injured psychologically and/or emotionally by the rapid histrionics) Mel's decision is reasonable.

By joe

Has anyone ever noticed how much alike Hollywood And Washignton D.C. are. It should all be in one place,it would less confusing.

By Lisa

It doesn`t surprise me when you`re rich and famous
you can get away with anything, even murder. This
sends out a message that it`s o k to beat a woman,
domestic violence is on the rise and no one seems
to care until after the woman is put in the hospital
or put in the grave. Three years probation big damn deal
that`s a slap on the rist, he`ll do it again
the next time he raises his hand to a woman i hope
she beats the crap out of him. Remember what Lorena Bobit did.

By Terry

No one knows what she did or said to him and may have slapped him first. Funny how she just happened to tape all his rants!!
Bugs him up then tapes his answers. She was a gold digger. You
forget how many years he was married to his wife. Never heard any problems like hitting etc. Many people dont like him because when he was drunk he said some things of Jewish people
he may have had a dispute with someone jewish! How do we know
what has happend to him. I will always go see his movies.

By jeanann

I think Mel is nuts.

By wmarylou10

For Heavens sakes. Mel, stop trying to date girls young enough to be your daughter. See the trouble it caused. go beg Robin to take you back, shes the only one who stood up for you during all the madness. your of an age that you have mid life crises and now yours is over. leave the young women alone, most times they only want your money. grow up and be happy if you can.

By CMD

I don't know with 100% certainty what transpired between those two, I wasn't there! This much I do know....I will not deprive myself of the work of this incredibly talented Actor just because his private life may or may not suck!

Saturday 12 March

By YellowRose3218

Every where in America, there are laws to protect woman, even this one. Bu these laws seem to only work for the average working 'Joe.' Mel should have ben arrested, and booked like any other man would have been.
If this had happened one time for Mel, I would feel differently.

By doneldathomas

I dont care who you are you should never ever hit a woman!!

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