Jun 092013
 

Erin Brockovich arrested

Erin Brockovich, who won a major legal battle against Pacific Gas and Electric Company of California in 1993, was arrested Friday on a charge of boating while intoxicated on Lake Mead near Las Vegas.

A Nevada Department of Wildlife officer grew suspicious when he observed a female boater having difficulty docking a motor craft.

NDOW spokesman Edwin Lyngar said, “She was obviously struggling to put the boat in the slip, and if you’ve had any experience, it’s a simple enough operation.”

Brockovich-Ellis, 52, was booked at Clark County Detention Center and posted $1,000 bail after failing a field sobriety test.  She reportedly registered a Breathalyzer reading “significantly” over the legal limit of .08 percent.

The former law clerk was portrayed by Julia Roberts in the 2000 blockbuster movie ‘Erin Brockovich,’ about the legal battle she waged against PG&E, accusing them of polluting the drinking water in a small Southern California town.

The film earned Roberts a coveted Academy Award for Best Actress, and grossed $256.3 million worldwide.

Julia Roberts Academy Award

Brockovich is currently president of a consulting firm that assists clients with environmental litigation.  Her 2001 book ‘Take It From Me: Life’s a Struggle But You Can Win,’ appeared on the New York Times Best Seller’s List.

Photos:  WENN

May 212013
 

Jackie Danforth arrested for DUI

Jacqueline Danforth, the adopted daughter of Barbara Walters, was arrested at 1:24 a.m. Sunday in Naples, Florida and charged with DUI.

The 44-year-old was driving a Hondo Pilot SUV without headlights when she was pulled over by local police.

According to a report filed by the arresting officer, Jackie Danforth and her male passenger were “heavily intoxicated.”   The policeman noted in his report, “I was afraid that the suspect may run into traffic on the highway, so she was taken to the ground due to her unpredictable behavior, then secured in handcuffs.”

A breathalyzer test revealed a blood alcohol level of .218 — close to three times the legal limit.

Danforth was booked and photographed before being released from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office shortly after posting a $1,000 bond.  She is scheduled to appear in court on June 12th.

Jacqueline Dena Gruber Danforth mugshot

In 2003 journalist Jane Pauley conducted an NBC interview with Barbara and Jackie, during which mother and daughter acknowledged that things were rocky at times during the teenage years.  Danforth admits she ran away on a number of occasions, once for over a month.

Barbara claims, “Another parent would call the police.  I didn’t want the headlines.  It’s not that I didn’t want the headlines for myself.  I didn’t want the headlines for her.  I thought, “I don’t know what she’ll do.”

When Pauley shot back, “What do you mean, you didn’t know what she would do?”

Walters explained, “Well, if suddenly she’d read, ‘Everybody’s looking for Barbara Walters’ daughter,’ it might have made things worse.”

The 83-year-old recently announced she will retire next year after a career spanning six decades.

Photos:  Twitter-Barbara Walters, Video Screen Grab-Oprah interview, Collier County Sheriff’s Booking Photo

May 172013
 

Dylan Michael Patton arrested for selling crack

Former soap star Dylan Michael Patton, of ‘Days of Our Lives’ fame, was arrested Tuesday and charged with selling cocaine within 1,000 feet of a Los Angeles elementary school.

The 20-year-old actor played Will Horton for a year on the NBC soap and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for outstanding young actor in a drama series in 2010.  His character was the son of Sami Brady, played by actress and ‘Biggest Loser’ host Alison Sweeney.

Los Angeles county sheriff’s deputies arrested Patton at his Agoura Hills home, next door to Sumac Elementary School.  According to the L.A. DA’s office, “Deputies allegedly seized cocaine from the residence.”

Prosecutors asked a judge Thursday to set Patton’s bail at $30,000.  He could face up to nine years in prison if convicted.

He began his acting career at age 7 with commercials.  His resume includes film work and other television roles, including appearances on ‘Cold Case’ and ‘That’s So Raven.’

Photo:  Twitter-Dylan Patton

May 072013
 

Joe Francis Photo

‘Girls Gone Wild’ founder Joe Francis is facing five years behind bars after a Los Angeles jury found him guilty of assault.

Following a two week trial, he was convicted on five charges: one count of assault causing great bodily injury, 3 counts of imprisonment and one count of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime.  A hearing to schedule his sentencing is set for Wednesday.

Joe, 40, met three women at the Supper Club in Hollywood in 2011, where they were celebrating a college graduation.  He invited them  back to his L.A. home and then refused to let them leave.  One woman accused him of choke-slamming her head into a tile floor.

Francis’ company, GGW Brands LLC, filed for bankruptcy in February after years of legal troubles.  The corporation listed more than $16 million in disputed claims.

The above photo was posted on Joe’s Twitter page in February with the caption, “The Rumors of my Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated.”

Perhaps he spoke too soon…

Photo Credit: Twitter

May 022013
 

Reese Witherspoon talks about her shame

During her first interview since getting arrested in Atlanta for disorderly conduct, Reese Witherspoon told GMA host George Stephanopoulos that “It will never happen again.”

The actress admits, “I saw the cop arresting my husband and I literally panicked.  I told him I was pregnant.  I’m not pregnant.  I said all kinds of crazy things.”

She confessed, “It’s just completely unacceptable and we are so sorry and embarrassed.  We went out to dinner in Atlanta and we had one too many glasses of wine.  We thought we were fine to drive and we absolutely were not.  We know better and we shouldn’t have done that.”

Shame photos

Witherspoon is still feeling a great deal of shame over the way she treated the arresting officer.  “I was so disrespectful to him.  I have police officers in my family.  I work with police officers every day.  I know better.  It’s just unacceptable.”

In her hit film ‘Legally Blonde,’ she played a Harvard-educated attorney.  She joked, “I played a lawyer in a movie so many times I think I am a lawyer.  And, clearly, I’m not a lawyer because I got arrested.”

The hardest part of the entire ordeal, according to the mother-of-three, was telling her two older children–Ava, 13, Deacon, 9, about her arrest.  Too young to understand or care is her baby Tennessee, 7-months.

Hear it in her own words below:

 

Photo:  WENN, Twitter-Reese Witherspoon