The West Memphis 3 just pled "guilty" to murdering three boy scouts in 1993 -- but all three still insist ... they never committed the crime.

Damien Nichols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin appeared for the first time as free men in a news conference today after their court hearing -- in which they pled "guilty" to the murders in exchange for their freedom.

The WM3 accepted a bargain known as an "Alford Plea" -- a "guilty" plea where the defendants still assert their innocence, despite evidence to the contrary.

But Damien and Jessie set the record straight as soon as they introduced themselves -- claiming they served 18 years for a crime they "did not commit." Jason did not immediately comment.

Jason eventually said he did NOT want to take the deal at first -- because he wanted to fight for his innocence in court, no matter how long it took.

But ultimately Jason capitulated -- claiming he took the deal to save his friend Damien from death row.

All three members of the West Memphis 3 arrived at the Craighead County Courthouse in Arkansas moments ago ... where at least TWO of the men are expected to be granted their release from prison.

Two huge celebrities have also arrived at the courthouse to support the men ... Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.

The WM3 -- comprised of Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin -- were found guilty of killing 3 boy scouts in 1993. Misskelley and Baldwin were sentenced to life in prison. Echols was sentenced to death.

The case became a cause célèbre over the years after new evidence surfaced ... raising serious doubts as to whether the WM3 actually killed the three young boys.

The WM3 had maintained their innocence for years ... but according to local reports, two of the men are expected to "admit guilt" during today's hearing in exchange for their freedom.

Story developing ...

Adrian Pasdar -- who played Senator Nathan Petrelli on "Heroes" -- has officially been charged with DUI following his arrest last month in L.A.

The 44-year-old actor -- who's married to Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines -- was initially pulled over on January 27 after cops say they clocked him going 90 MPH on the 405 Freeway.

After conducting a field sobriety test, cops eventually arrested Pasdar and held him on $15,000 bail.

Pasdar is due back in court on February 24 and faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Natalie Maines didn't pick her husband up from jail this morning -- but the Dixie Chicks singer did go on a hike less than an hour after he was released.



As TMZ first reported, Natalie's husband -- "Heroes" star Adrian Pasdar -- was thrown behind bars this morning after he was popped for DUI on an L.A. freeway at 3 AM.

Pasdar was released around 8:30 AM. Roughly an hour later, an emotional-looking Natalie and a female friend went out for a quick hike.

If only Pasdar had gone for a walk instead of getting behind the wheel ...

Dixie Chick Natalie Maines worked on her fitness by hiking in L.A. this weekend.



The recently shorn 34-year-old mother of two is not ashamed to break a sweat in public.

If there's one thing Natalie Maines is good for -- other than playing a mean six-string -- it's bashing President Bush every chance she gets.

Natalie Maines obviously isn't out to make friends with President Bush anytime soon -- expressing her embarrassment towards #43 and calling him a "dumb f**k" in a new documentary.

Though the Dixie Chicks initially set out to make a rockumentary, "Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing" quickly became more politically charged after the group's frontwoman told a London audience, "We're embarrassed that the President is from Texas," at a 2003 concert.
"We felt like it was time to have cameras follow us around for a little while and just show the next cycle of touring," says Emily Robison about the filming, "and then when Natalie said what she said it turned into a totally different animal. It was one of those things where we knew it was important to continue filming."

The documentary, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, depicts the backlash towards the Chicks and their new album, "Taking the Long Way," which had difficulty getting airplay on country radio stations. The film will open this month in limited release.