Posted May 9th 2008 3:43PM by TMZ Staff
Nick Hogan and his family are just about to arrive have arrived at a Pinellas County courtroom and, as we reported yesterday, Nick will throw himself at the mercy of the court, pleading either not guilty or no contest to the felony charge of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. The major players: Nick Hogan, his lawyer Kevin Hayslett, Pinellas County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Rosenwasser, and Judge Philip Federico.
UPDATE: 3:53 ET: We're heading outside now to get reactions from the family. Stay tuned.
UPDATE 3:49 ET: And it looks like they're taking him away. No reaction at all from Nick.
UPDATE 3:47 ET: And here's the sentence ... EIGHT MONTHS IN PINELLAS COUNTY JAIL, STARTING RIGHT NOW. Nick was totally expressionless.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 9th 2008 2:20PM by TMZ Staff
DMX was busted again this morning at his home in Arizona -- and the Sheriffs tell us he barricaded himself in his bedroom when they came to get him!
DMX was arrested at 3:00 AM at his home in Cave Creek on seven misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and four felony drug possession charges. During a search of his home, cops found more than they bargained for -- including a number of weapons and drugs, as well as five pit bull puppies -- and filed additional charges against him.
According to Sheriff Arpaio, DMX attempted to barricade himself in his bedroom at the time of the search warrant but eventually came out, offered no further resistance, and was booked. And how's this for weird? The dogs were taken to the First Avenue Jail, where they will remain under the care of female inmates.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 9th 2008 2:10PM by TMZ Staff
To the surprise of no one, Tila Tequila's skanky "Shot at Love" season one makeout partner, Brandi Ryan, was arrested last night. Dranks to that!
OC Sheriffs popped the sapphic skeeze for felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Paging Dr. Drew!
Brandi, whose MySpace page lists her occupation as "loan officer," also had a warrant out for having a suspended license and was cited for having no insurance.
UPDATE: Ryan was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for having illegal tinted windows. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ that when they searched the car, Brandi tried to hide a meth pipe. In her crotch.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Reality TV
Posted May 9th 2008 12:31PM by TMZ Staff
Looks like R. Kelly will FINALLY face the music. His motion to continue his kiddie porn trial was just denied.
Kelly has gotten a string of continuances -- six years worth to be exact, which he toured and made a pile of cash. But now jury selection is scheduled for Monday. Have a nice weekend.
In the sex video, prosecutors say Kelly is peeing on an underage girl. Kelly has pleaded not guilty.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Music
Posted May 8th 2008 7:48PM by TMZ Staff
The live-in lover of late Rat Packer Joey Bishop is suing a bunch of people, claiming they screwed her out of assets in Joey's estate.
Nora Garibotti claims Bishop's law firm and his agent, Ed Hookstratten, were responsible for revisions in Bishop's will that aced her out of Bishop's home on tony Lido Island in Newport Beach, along with "books, cash, furniture and other personal property." To make matters worse, Garibotti claims there's a clause that completely disinherits her if she contests the will and it was not Joey's intent to do that.
That's the short of it. It is one of the most frickin' complicated lawsuits we've ever reported on. Bishop changed his will a zillion times.
BTW, Garibotti has an interesting description on her relationship with Joey: "Ms. Garibotti was a close personal friend of Joey Bishop for approximately 24 years prior to his death. For the first 16 years....they golfed almost everyday." Then, in 1999, after Bishop's wife died, she moved in with him.
The suit goes on to say, "In February, 2002, Mr. Bishop asked Ms. Garibotti to marry him, and she declined in order to avoid the publicity that she believed would interrupt their peaceful life together." Not so peaceful after all.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 8th 2008 3:30PM by TMZ Staff
Joe Montana's softer side was sought out by NFL defenses for years -- turns out his ex-wife just sold it to the highest bidder ... in the form of old college love letters!
The former 49ers quarterback is suing his first wife, Kim Moses, and a Texas auction house for selling love letters and memorabilia from his time at the University of Notre Dame. The other items include Joe's freshman I.D. card, a University of Notre Dame letter of intent and Joe and Kim's 1979 marriage certificate.
Joe is suing in excess of $75,000 -- claiming the items were obtained and sold by Moses without his consent.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Posted May 8th 2008 1:39PM by TMZ Staff
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Nick Hogan will cop to a criminal charge in court tomorrow.
We're told Hogan will not fight the charge of felony reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. He will plead either guilty or no contest. Sources say no deal has been struck with prosecutors. Hogan will enter an "open plea," meaning the judge will have complete leeway in his sentencing and the victim and his family will have an opportunity to testify at a sentencing hearing on how the crime has affected their lives. The maximum penalty is five years in prison.
On August 26, 2007, Nick was driving a suped-up Toyota with passenger John Graziano when he crashed, severely injuring John.
We're told Hulk and the rest of Nick's family will be in Pinellas County court (Florida) tomorrow.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 8th 2008 1:15PM by TMZ Staff
Kim Kardashian has filed a response to the lawsuit filed against her by Brandy's mom, Sonja Norwood -- saying everything she and her fam is accused of doing, they didn't do.
Back in February, Norwood sued the Kardashians and claimed in 2004, when Kim K was a stylist, she was given permission to use Sonja's American Express card to make "one (and only one)" purchase on behalf of Sonja.
According to the suit, Kim and her fam allegedly made several purchases -- grand total, $120,635.65!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Kim Kardashian
Posted May 8th 2008 1:12PM by TMZ Staff
Just moments ago, Foxy Brown pleaded out of her Brooklyn Blackberry beatdown case, and -- believe it or not -- might be clear of any court dates for the forseeable future.
Brown pled guilty to one misdemeanor charge of menacing in Brooklyn Criminal Court today, and the prosecution threw out the felony assault charge stemming from a 2007 incident in which Foxy allegedly smacked Arlene Raymond with her mobile device.
She was sentenced to time served, and a letter of apology was submitted. Now that she's also pled out of her Florida case, the legal radar is more or less clear for Foxy.
We're also told that someone attempted to serve Foxy with a lawsuit -- we hear from Raymond -- but given what happened today, that it might get dropped.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 7th 2008 7:00PM by TMZ Staff
Al Sharpton was arrested for civil disobedience this afternoon along with a slew of others in New York.
Sharpton was part of a group of hundreds who were protesting the acquittal of three New York City police detectives who fatally shot Sean Bell 50 times in 2006.
Sharpton most likely will receive a citation and then be released.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 7th 2008 6:16PM by TMZ Staff
Cops say DMX was driving so damn fast on an Arizona highway, it took more than three months to catch up with the guy.
Scottsdale police finally arrested the rapper at his home yesterday after they claim he broke 100 MPH at three separate checkpoints back in January.
According to police, stationary cameras first snapped DMX in triple digits around 8:24 PM . One minute later he was spotted again -- this time doing 114. Three minutes later he was clocked doing 101 ... and he did all that in a yellow 1966 Chevy Nova II.
DMX, real name Earl Simmons, faces charges of racing on a highway, reckless driving, two counts of endangerment, three counts of criminal speed and driving on a suspended license.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 7th 2008 5:20PM by TMZ Staff
The R. Kelly kiddie porn trial has been delayed for more than five years -- so what's another five years between litigants?
TMZ has confirmed that R. Pissy's lawyers filed a motion today to delay the trial for what seems like the 18 millionth time. The motion will be considered on the first scheduled day of trial.
The trial was finally slated to begin on Friday with jury selection. Just last weekend, the Chicago Sun-Times revealed that a witness was going to come forward to testify that she had had a threesome with R. and the alleged underage victim, and we're told that this new info is what's prompting the motion to continue.
A source tells TMZ that the judge in the case -- Vincent Gaughan -- has been trying to avoid leaks precisely so that Kelly won't have any excuse to delay the proceedings any longer. We're told that he's running this one "tighter than any case in recent memory."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted May 7th 2008 1:56PM by TMZ Staff
The guy who served comedian Mike Epps paternity court papers claims Epps served him something too -- a can of whoop ass!
The victim told the Louisville Police Department he attempted to serve Epps while the comedian was backstage at Kentucky's Louisville Gardens. As the server was handing the papers over, he claims he was attacked by Epps and a few other guys. According to the police report, he suffered an abrasion to the right side of his head and his left eye was swollen shut.
Mike Epps is the prime suspect. Epps' reps couldn't be reached for comment.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Fights
Posted May 7th 2008 1:45PM by TMZ Staff
Russell Simmons wants to be a baby daddy, even though baby momma ain't so sure.
We obtained a legal document filed by the Russell man, asking for joint custody of his two kids. Kimora Lee Simmons tried to block her ex by asking for sole custody when she filed for divorce back in March. Bitter, bitter.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Break-Ups, Celebrity Feuds
Posted May 7th 2008 1:31PM by TMZ Staff
British popwreck Amy Winehouse has been arrested for alleged possession of a controlled drug. No, no, no!
Winehouse went to a London police station this afternoon at around 1:00 PM for a scheduled meeting and was questioned regarding alleged drug offenses. At the conclusion of the meeting, Amy was arrested.
According to The Sun, Amy was popped over a video they ran of her allegedly smoking crack and snorting cocaine.
On April 25, Amy was arrested for suspicion of assault for allegedly headbutting a man outside a London bar. She was released the next day and given a formal caution.
A rep for Winehouse tells TMZ, "Amy Winehouse voluntarily attended a London police station today by appointment. She was arrested in order to be interviewed and is co-operating fully with inquiries. The interview relates to a video handed to police earlier this year."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Amy Winehouse
