Posted Jul 27th 2007 11:55AM by TMZ Staff
Say you, say me ... say guilty!
TMZ was in L.A. County Superior Courtroom moments ago, where a pregnant Nicole Richie faced the music for her wrong-way DUI bust in December -- her second DUI conviction in 4 years.
A court commissioner sentenced Richie, represented by uber-lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley, to serve four days in the City or County Jail (her choice!) -- she got credit for one day, based on the six hours she served after being busted. So when she goes back in to the pokey, she'll only serve three days.
Richie was also fined $2,048, was ordered back to school for an alcohol education course and on three years probation.
Richie must report to serve her time by September 28.
The commissioner issued Richie a stern warning, telling her if she drove drunk again and she actually killed someone, she could be charged with murder -- not manslaughter. That's because after her first DUI, Richie agreed that if she drove under the influence and killed someone, she'd be nailed for murder.
The 25-year-old is expected to give birth sometime in January.
A source close to Richie said at today's sentencing she was "stoic and serious, but not emotional."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nicole Richie
Tags: court, jail, nicole richie, NicoleRichie
Posted Jul 27th 2007 11:16AM by TMZ Staff
It's not quite the scene created by Paris, but things are getting pretty crazy outside of the L.A. County Superior Court where Nicole Richie is set to face the judge over her December wrong-way DUI.
Keep checkin' back -- TMZ will be the first to have details -- throughout the day.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nicole Richie
Posted Jul 27th 2007 10:19AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned Nicole Richie will appear in court Friday and will cop a plea in her DUI case.
Sources tell TMZ Richie will plead either guilty or no contest to DUI. She will appear before the Court Commissioner, who will sentence her on the spot. Sources say Richie will receive a minimum sentence of five days in jail. By law, anyone with two DUI convictions must serve at least five days. This conviction will be Nicole's second DUI.
Nicole was arrested on December 11, after cops say she drove the wrong way on a California highway.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nicole Richie
Posted Jul 20th 2007 6:10PM by TMZ Staff
Oh no she ditn't!!
TMZ has obtained a photo of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie on the set of "The Simple Life," with one-time Oscar nominee Sally Kirkland in full-on blackface and an afro! Cards and letters to Ms. Kirkland! As TMZ reported in May, Nicole talked Kirkland, who plays a drama teacher, into donning the controversial getup to portray Lionel Richie in an episode of the reality show. Paging Rev. Al!
While the racy episode airs July 29 -- the fallout starts now!
Filed under: Wacky & Weird, Paris Hilton, You Might Want to Rethink, Nicole Richie
Tags: Nicole Richie, NicoleRichie, Paris Hilton, ParisHilton, Sally Kirkland, SallyKirkland
Posted Jul 17th 2007 1:51PM by TMZ Staff
An inmate at the Lackawanna County prison in Pennsylvania gave birth in her cell last week. It's a little like looking into a crystal ball for Nicole Richie!
Shakira Staten gave birth to a baby girl on July 10, the day before her 22nd birthday, according to the Times-Tribune. The paper goes on to say that a female guard cut the umbilical cord with her fingernails. Now that's what we call hard labor!
Nicole's DUI case, which originally scheduled for July 11, is now set to begin on August 16. She faces a minimum of five days in prison if convicted.
Filed under: Baby Watch, Nicole Richie
Tags: nicole richie, NicoleRichie, pregnant, prison
Posted Jul 11th 2007 12:42PM by TMZ Staff
Sources tell TMZ the test that allegedly proves Nicole Richie was under the influence was a urine exam-- not blood.
In a declaration filed today and obtained by TMZ, Nicole's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, challenged the urinalysis on grounds that it's unreliable -- blood is generally considered the more accurate test.
The cops say Nicole confessed that she had taken Vicodin and smoked pot before driving the wrong way on an L.A. Freeway last December.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nicole Richie
Posted Jul 11th 2007 12:15PM by TMZ Staff
Nicole Richie's fate won't be decided for another month, because a key witness is having fun in the sun.
The commissioner in Richie's DUI case has just granted a continuance, pushing her next court date back to August 16. He also ordered Nicole to appear in court on that date.
Richie's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, requested the extension for an expert witness who was unavailable for today's trial date due to vacation plans. As TMZ first reported, Dr. Terence McGee will challenge the results of Nicole's drug test.
Richie admitted to taking Vicodin, and smoking pot while driving the wrong way on the 134 freeway late last year.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nicole Richie
Posted Jul 10th 2007 7:38PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained a document that holds the key to Nicole Richie's DUI defense -- she will claim the drug tests cops performed on her were bogus. Life isn't simple!
The declaration, filed today by Shawn Chapman Holley, Nicole's lawyer, states, "Dr. Terence McGee as a defense expert ... will challenge the prosecutor's scientific evidence and the conclusions reached by the drug recognition expert."
The pregnant Richie's trial was set to begin tomorrow morning. Chapman Holley appeared before the Commissioner today and asked for a continuance until August 5, because Dr. McGee is not available until then. The commissioner ordered them back to court tomorrow to decide whether he will grant the request for a continuance.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nicole Richie
Posted Jul 10th 2007 5:15PM by TMZ Staff
With a court date tomorrow stemming from her DUI last December, Nicole "The Pillow" Richie did what any pregnant, emaciated, spoiled starlet would do -- flee the country! Oh, Canada!
Taking a cue from the Michael Jackson Children's School of Disguise, Nicole arrived in Calgary hiding behind a pillow with baby daddy-to-be, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden. Lifestyles of the rich and the famous! The unwed couple are up north because Joel's band has a show tonight at the Calgary Stampede -- an A-list rodeo! Apparently, times are not-so-good, Charlotte.
Nicole will be able to enjoy her time at the rodeo, because Wednesday's court date is a motions hearing -- for which she does not need to be present. So while Wrong Way Richie won't personally be attempting to get out of her DUI tomorrow, she'll still be knee-deep in bullsh**t!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Paparazzi Photo, Baby Watch, Nicole Richie
Tags: Joel Madden, JoelMadden, Nicole Richie, NicoleRichie
Posted Jul 10th 2007 3:06PM by TMZ Staff
Tatty baby daddy wants to dress up his look before the brat pops? How else to explain Joel Madden in Beverly Hills?
The Good Charlotte frontman/Nicole Richie baby daddy was spotted dropping off the hot very little mama at her West Hollywood apartment, and was later seen shopping alone at Barneys. A new dad's gotta look good! He can try.
"So You Think You Can Dance's" Shane Sparks talked to cameras as he made his way into club Element. The TV show judge/choreographer gave his nickel's worth on this season's show.
Mr. Chow opened its doors for camera flash favorites, tushalicious Kim Kardashian and chicken dancer Bai Ling, while Joseph's hosted pretty boys J.C. Chasez and giggly Brody Jenner.
All this and much, much more in today's pop 'n lock edition of Star Catcher!
Filed under: Star Catcher, Nicole Richie
Tags: brody jenner, BrodyJenner, jc chasez, jc chazes, JcChasez, JcChazes, joel madden, JoelMadden, kim kardashian, KimKardashian, nicole richie, NicoleRichie
Posted Jul 10th 2007 1:34PM by TMZ Staff
The Commissioner in the Nicole Richie DUI case did not grant the continuance Nicole Richie wanted. Period.
As TMZ first reported, Richie's lawyer asked for a continuance until August 5th, because her expert witness, Dr. Terence McGee, was not available to testify then. Commissioner Steven Lubell was visibly upset and ordered both Nicole's lawyer, Shawn Chapman Holley, and the prosecutor into chambers. When the Commissioner came out, he said he would not rule on the continuance and ordered all parties into court tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM -- that's when the trial is scheduled to begin.
Seems like Nicole is in a pickle. She flew to Calgary last night with baby daddy Joel Madden, who is performing a gig in the Great White North. Will Nicole bail on the concert and come back to face the Commish?
We'll let you know!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nicole Richie
Posted Jul 10th 2007 12:20PM by TMZ Staff
Nicole Richie's lawyer tried to fool TMZ by going to court a day early, but it didn't work!
We were at the courthouse when Shawn Chapman-Holley appeared. She has not approached the bench yet, but she just told us she will ask the Commissioner to postpone Nicole's DUI trial. It's supposed to start tomorrow. She's asking for a new trial date of August 5.
Chapman-Holley just filed a motion, stating the reason for the continuance -- Nicole's expert witness, Dr. Terence McGee, can't testify until the August date. Dr. McGee is a nationally recognized expert on drug testing. Will Nicole challenge the drug test? If so, what's the deal with the alleged confession -- that she had smoked dope and taken Vicodin before driving the wrong way on an L.A. freeway.
TMZ got its paws on this photo of pregnant Nicole (pillow in face) with baby daddy Joel Madden. The couple was flying out of LAX. Joel's band, Good Charlotte, has a gig tonight in Calgary, Canada.
BTW, if Nicole is convicted, she faces a minimum of five days in the pokey.
UPDATE: Nicole's lawyer and the prosecutor have gone before the Commissioner to discuss the continuance. The Commissioner looked upset and ordered both lawyers into his chambers. Stay tuned...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nicole Richie
Posted Jul 8th 2007 11:10AM by TMZ Staff
Nicole Richie's daddy Lionel Richie spoke out about his daughter's recent legal troubles. Nicole's DUI trial is set for July 11. She was arrested in December for driving under the influence and pleaded not guilty.
Richie told FOXNews.com that, "she keeps apologizing to me. I told her 'You're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing to your father at this age." Talk about arrested development!
Richie-the-elder then blamed the media for his daughter's drama. "There's just so much information out there right now -- MySpace, cell phones, the Internet. If we had had all that when The Commodores were around, God only knows what my mother and father would have seen." Probably some dancing on the ceiling!
Filed under: Nicole Richie
Tags: Lionel Richie, LionelRichie, Nicole Richie, NicoleRichie
Posted Jul 6th 2007 3:29PM by TMZ Staff
Will a sympathetic judge delay Nicole Richie's mandatory jail sentence if she's convicted? Don't get your hopes up, honey.
TMZ did some checking on the guy in the robe who will preside over her case and sentence her if she's convicted. The guy is Los Angeles County Commissioner Steven Lubell. The legal eagles who have appeared in his courtroom say he's tough and very much by the book. He will not give Richie any special treatment, and our sources say her pregnancy won't amount to squat when it comes to serving time.
Richie's trial is scheduled to begin next Wednesday. If convicted, it will be her second DUI and she'll face a minimum of five days in jail.
Lynnwood ladies -- let's get ready to rumble!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Nicole Richie
Posted Jul 3rd 2007 3:53PM by TMZ Staff
Inseminated and emaciated starlet Nicole Richie's legal woes may get even worse. If the micro-sized Richie is sentenced to do time in the clink, there'll be no VIP treatment for the puny reality star.
The birdlike Richie is expecting the stork in just six months. Pregnant inmates are housed in the general population and given a high calorie diet -- oh the horror -- and prenatal vitamins. Eat up, hon! If Nic goes into labor while doing time, she'll be forced to pop the kid at a hospital contracted by her Los Angeles correctional facility -- no VIP suite at Cedars Sinai!
The usual hospital stay for jailbird mommies is three days, with the required Sheriff's deputy standing guard. Then it's back to the pen -- without the newbie! The precious celebuspawn of Nicole and Joel would be given to either the father, or the grandparents! All night long!
Upon release from the hospital -- it's back to Chez Jail!
Filed under: Baby Watch, Nicole Richie
