Celebrity Justice
Sprouse Manager Convicted of Molestation

Posted Mar 3rd 2008 4:37PM by TMZ Staff

Child star manager Josh Werkman has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor child molestation and misdemeanor sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor.

Werkman entered his plea in on Friday in Ventura County Superior Court. He will be sentenced on April 2.

Werkman manages Cole and Dylan Sprouse, the twin stars of the Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody." The twins were NOT involved in the case.

Werkman is also CEO of Merimark Entertainment and served as producer on the Sprouse twins' two most recent movies.

Calls to Merimark for comment were not immediately returned. Reps for the Disney Channel had no comment.

Law enforcement tells us Werkman was initially arrested for felony sexual battery by restraint. Sources tell TMZ the alleged victim is a 16-year-old male.

Werkman's lawyer, Steve Cron, says "Josh admitted he annoyed an individual who is a minor and provided that person with alcohol on the day in question. He acknowledged that he used bad judgment on that occasion and that is why he pleaded no contest to the two charges."

UPDATE: TMZ spoke with the prosecutor in the case, Rameen Minoui, who tells us that Werkman must register as a sex offender, and could face up to one year in jail.

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Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Kids

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Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 6)Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

16. I don't care if these 2 butterballs are gay or not. They're untalented, unfunny little farts.

Posted at 4:03PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Bozo's Balls

17. Jizy, how about just do everyone a favor and stop posting comments on this post, we know your opinion, even though must of us don't agree with it, so just go away!

Posted at 4:03PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by McKenna

18. JIzy....you are the one that needs an azz whoppin

Posted at 4:04PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by me

19. Some of you idiots are so sick your really are. To make fun of kids that may or may not have been molested. Where is your soul? Parents need to always be very concerned with an adult who plays with children too closely, or lives alone and has all the kiddies games. An adult who prefers being around children than adults is someone to look out for. Kinda like R-Kelly. Or some of these heartless freaks who thinks its funny.

Posted at 4:06PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Lets play

20. Hey you guys really need to lay off Cole and Dylan I mean really if you guys think of them as gay just because of this headline (because it has thier picture on it) then you should tell the admin of this site, ok? I mean really, the boys are probably under a lot of pressure right now to find a new agent, and you guys aren't helping at ALL with any of this mess.

Posted at 4:08PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Leah

21. Did you see that one episode of “The Suite Life” when Cody & Zack were hugging for what seemed like forever?
Shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone.

Posted at 4:17PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Jizy

22. THE "SUITE LIFE" CODY N ZAC R 2 SNOBBY LITTLE KIDS ! R THEY SUPPOSED 2 ACT THAT SNOBBY, OR R THEY JUST "ACTING" THEY WERE LIKE THAT ON REGIS N KELLY . . . !

Posted at 4:21PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by whatever the FU*# !

23. Jizy is a pedophile. Only a pedophile would think his comments are funny. So I hope the lady your shacked up with doesn’t have any kids. You ask how do I know you’re a complete bum well I can just tell just like everyone else can tell.

Posted at 4:21PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Lets play

24. Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. The two boys were NOT INVOLVED IDIOT

Posted at 4:22PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Robert Vogel

25. In my world you get a book deal and six months later a television miniseries and then TMZ follows you around taking your picture and we get to post sincere but funny comments about them.
You think there’ll be a miniseries about Zack & Cody dating their agent?

Posted at 4:22PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Jizy

26. this is so sad. any ADULT that is so pathetic that they have to TRICK children to feel good about themselves, it just makes me sick. and then i get on here and "Jizy" has his nasty, provocative comments written about children....and im wondering to myself, "why would TMZ leave THOSE comments up, but i commented once on how they needed spell check and removed mine instantly." we live in a SAD SICK WORLD and its sad to think that people who do drugs go to prison for a LONG time and child molesters get away with it and might have to pay a fine.

******************so if this is something that bothers you about our country, make sure when you vote for president, see what they think about child molestation, child pornography, etc. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!! there are millions of kids out there that have to go through this every day. WE have to do something about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*************************

Posted at 4:24PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by his fav brunette

27. I don’t know who is which, but the skinny one probably shaves his legs for the fat one.

Posted at 4:26PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Jizy

28. Im a distrubed person who has no common cents....Jizy

Posted at 4:32PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Jizy

29. Jizy your sick.

Posted at 4:41PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by yeah right

30. WAY TO CHANGE YOUR STORY SO YOU DON'T GET SUED! MAYBE YOU SHOULD HIRE A PROOF READER FAMILIAR WITH THE LAW BEFORE YOU POST A STORY!!! I GUESS I SHOULD WAIT A WHILE AFTER A STORY COMES UP TO READ IT, HUH? THAT IS IF I WANT IT TO BE SOMEWHAT ACCURATE.

Posted at 4:57PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by YONKERS, NY

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