15 Popular Stars Who Became Criminals
TheRichest.com
by Mark Heidelberger
When it comes to the law, there’s no shortage of celebrities with a
history of playing it fast and loose. They may feel like the same rules that
apply to us mere mortals don’t necessarily apply to them. It could be that they
expect their celebrity status to get them off with nothing more than a slap on
the wrist. Perhaps those same emotions they’re so good at controlling for stage
and screen get the better of them when the limelight’s not shining. Or maybe it
just demonstrates that celebrities are human, prone to scrapes with justice
just like the rest of us.
Of course, human or not, that doesn’t mean the media will treat them
with the same disinterest and indifference as the next guy. Quite the contrary.
When stars commit crimes, the news cycle is utterly relentless in its coverage,
counting on viewers who want the guarded personal lives of celebrities
demystified. Celebrities are used to riding the gravy train, so you can always
count on the public to slow down and watch the train wreck. While this list is
by no means exhaustive, here are 15 celebrities who found themselves operating
on the wrong side of the law at one time or another (some more than once).
15. Nick Nolte http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/celebrity-mug-shots-gallery-1.14221?pmSlide=1.77553
On September 11th, 2002, Nolte was arrested in Malibu after
he fell asleep behind the wheel of his car and veered into opposing traffic on
the Pacific Coast Highway. It was later found that he was driving while under
the influence of a party drug called GHB, whose effects often resemble those of
alcohol. Nolte later plead no contest to the misdemeanor charge, served three
years’ probation and spent time in rehabilitation. Many of us remember the
famous Polaroid that a Malibu police officer snapped of a disheveled,
wild-haired Nolte the night he was arrested. However, despite popular belief,
that was not the official mug shot, which was never released to the public.
Nolte claims he was headed to an AA meeting at a church that night, but for
reasons unknown changed his mind when he arrived and decided to go back home.
Too bad. That meeting might have been the best thing he could have done for
himself.
14. Winona Ryder https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/1675249_101.jpg
In December of 2001, Ryder was caught trying to shoplift $5,000 worth
of clothes, hair products and a hand bag from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly
Hills. Clerks had caught her ripping off tags and stuffing the clothes into a
shopping bag she was carrying. While she beat a burglary charge, she was
convicted of vandalism and grand theft, which ultimately lead to $3,700 in
fines, 480 hours of community service, and restitution to Saks. During the
arrest, she was also found carrying painkillers without a prescription, but
denied being under the influence. While she was not charged with any drug-related
crimes, she was ordered to attend drug counseling. Following a five-year
hiatus, Ryder returned to acting in 2006, appearing in Richard Linklater’s
adaptation of the Philip K. Dick novel A
Scanner Darkly. Many fans were
shocked as to why a wealthy celebrity would have to steal clothes. However,
those who later saw the prices at Saks quickly found their confusion
alleviated.
13. Michael Vick http://www.itchmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/1804e3d8-441d-4aa9-b44f-fdfdc4d552c1_ms.jpg
In April of 2007, Vick’s cousin, Davon Boddie, was arrested on drug
charges and provided Vick’s home as his primary address. Upon searching the
residence, authorities discovered evidence of dogfighting, including 54
malnourished dogs (primarily pitbulls), a blood-soaked fighting arena, training
equipment, and various documentation describing the nature of the enterprise.
On July 17th, Vick and three cohorts were indicted on federal
charges of funding an illegal gambling operation and violating interstate commerce
laws by transporting fighting dogs across state lines. The State of Virginia
also brought charges of illegal dogfighting and cruelty to animals, where it
came to light that Vick was at least aware of, if not complicit in, the
hanging, drowning and electrocution of dogs who had underperformed in the ring.
At this point, dog lovers everywhere who had never even considered the death
penalty for serial killers were suddenly calling for its use on Vick. Instead,
he was sentenced to 23 months in the federal doghouse, although he barked his
way out in just 18.
12. Chris Brown http://cheznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/image1.jpg
Brown’s legal woes began on February 8th, 2009 when he beat
up his then-girlfriend Rihanna, causing her facial injuries that required
hospital treatment. He later plead guilty to one count of felony assault. But
Brown was just getting started. On June 14th, 2012, he was involved
in a fight with Drake at a New York City nightclub over Rihanna. On January 27th,
2013, he attacked singer Frank Ocean outside a West Hollywood recording studio
over a parking spot. On October 27th, 2013, he was arrested for
felony assault (yes, again) for punching a man outside a Washington DC hotel. On November 10th, 2013, he was
sentenced to 90 days’ anger management for throwing a rock through the window of
his mother’s car. On June 2nd, 2016, he was accused of punching a
woman in the face for trying to snap his picture after a performance. And on
August 30th, 2016, he was arrested on suspicion of assault with a
deadly weapon after a day-long stand-off with police outside his Tarzana home.
Further instances abound, but this is an article, not a novel.
11. Christian Slater http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/images/otrc/2010/photos/100728_otrc_photo_christian_slater_mugshot2.jpg
Unfortunately, Winona’s not the only “Heathers” cast member to have run-ins with the law. On December 29th,
1989, Slater was arrested for drunk driving after leading police on an early
morning car chase that ended when he wrapped his Saab around a tree. His
blood-alcohol limit was three times the legal California limit and the stunt
netted him 10 days in jail. In 1994, he was arrested at JFK Airport for trying
to board a commercial flight with an unloaded 9mm handgun. Then, in August of
1997, while under the influence of cocaine and heroin, he was arrested yet
again for beating up his girlfriend, fashion editor Michelle Jonas, and a man
who was trying to help her. When police arrived, he resisted arrest and kicked
officer Julio Flores down a flight of stairs. He was sentenced to 90 days in
jail, but only served 59. As a star on the top of the “unwanted touching tree,”
he was also charged with third degree sexual abuse in May of 2005 for
inappropriately grabbing a woman on the street.
10. Lindsay Lohan http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1294256.1404418095!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/lindsay-lohan-mug-shots.jpg
Li-Lo’s collection of mug shots is beginning to look like its own
yearbook album. Between 2007 and 2012, she racked up more than a dozen
infractions. The lowlights: On May 26th, 2007, she’s charged with
drunk driving and possession of cocaine after crashing her car in Beverly Hills.
The lesson didn’t stick, because she gets arrested for the exact same charges
again two months later (as well as driving with a suspended license, natch).
She’s sentenced to one day in jail, but is released after serving a staggering
84 minutes. On May 20th, 2010, a bench warrant is issued when she
skips a court date to attend the Cannes Film Fest, forcing her to chalk up 100K
in bail. Subsequent fines and jail time rack up as she continues to violate the
terms of her probation. On December 12th, 2010, a Betty Ford Clinic
staff member accuses her of assault, although the charges are subsequently
dropped. On February 9th, 2011, she’s taken into custody for trying
to swipe a $2,500 necklace from a Venice jewelry store. And on November 29th,
2012, she’s nabbed for punching a woman in the face outside a Manhattan night
club. All this lends credence to the theory that she got miscast in Mean Girls.
9. Justin Bieber http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/01/23/article-2544599-1AE87E5400000578-115_634x776.jpg
The Canadian pop star seems to be taking a few cues from the Chris
Brown/Lindsay Lohan playbook. One, two or even three times in cuffs just isn’t
enough to solidify your street cred. On December 30th, 2013, the
Biebs and his entourage assaulted a limo driver who had the unfortunate task of
chauffeuring them around. Barely two weeks later, he plead no contest to
misdemeanor vandalism of a neighbor’s home and was ordered to pay nearly
$81,000 in damages. Nine days after that, he was arrested in Miami Beach for
illegal street racing and resisting arrest after unleashing a torrent of
profanities at local police officers. Then, on August 29th, 2014, he
was nabbed for assault and dangerous driving after his ATV collided with a
minivan that, according to his lawyers, was being driven by a member of the
paparazzi. While stars deserve some R&R too, it’s still boggling how many
turn to violence simply because their picture was taken without their
permission. Hello, you are famous!
Beyoncé’s better half may not be that much better after all. In October
of 2001, music impresario, Roc Nation mogul and Obama BFF Jay Z turned himself
into authorities for a stabbing incident that happened outside a listening
party at the Kit Kat Club on December 2, 1999. He was originally charged with
felony assault and faced up to 15 years in prison for sticking a blade into
record producer Lance “Un” Rivera over what some speculate was a disagreement about
female rapper Charli Baltimore. Ultimately, the mogul plead the charge down to
third degree assault and was sentenced to a paltry three years’ probation. Rumors
have also swirled for years that Jay Z was involved in orchestrating the murder
of fellow rapper Big L, although no proof has ever been proffered and most
consider it mere tabloid fodder. Either way, none of this seems to have hurt
him, as Forbes estimates his 2016 net worth to be about $610 million.
Philadelphia native Smith found fame in the 1980’s as one half of the
hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. But a poor decision in 1989
could have closed the gates to Bel Air permanently. According to police, Smith
got into a verbal altercation with promoter William Hendricks – just days after
his first Grammy win no less – and ordered his bodyguard to attack Hendricks.
The assault left Hendricks with a fractured left eye orbit that required
hospitalization, and Smith was subsequently charged with aggravated assault,
simple assault, reckless endangerment and criminal conspiracy. Smith spent a
night in jail at the West Philly police station as a result, with one witness
claiming that the other inmates were bothering him all night long for
autographs. Fortunately for Smith, the charges were later dropped, and he
denies any wrongdoing to this day. He later starred on screen as Muhammad Ali,
where his fighting talents were better suited.
6. Wesley Snipes https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/96/09/18/960918264b40a6e5c3e3d9665fc2613c.jpg
White collar crime might not sound as exciting as good old-fashioned
violence, but ask Wesley Snipes about getting caught doing it: it sucks just as
much. In 2006, the Blade star was
overseas in Namibia filming his new movie Gallow
Walker when he was forced to return to Ocala, Florida to answer charges that
he fraudulently claimed refunds of almost $12 million for both 1996 and 1997
taxes that he had already paid. He was also accused of failing to file any tax
returns between 1999 and 2004, a period during which he made approximately $40
million. He eventually posted $1 million bond and was permitted to return to
Namibia to finish his film. He was later found guilty on three misdemeanor
counts of failing to file federal tax returns, went behind bars at McKean
Federal Correctional Institution on December 9th, 2010, and served
about 2.5 years of his three-year prison sentence. He was released on April 2nd,
2013, and as far as we know, has faithfully paid his taxes ever since.
5. Martha Stewart http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/img/876/493/rewrewrr435435345.jpg?ve=1&tl=1
First, a little backstory. A biopharmaceutical company called ImClone
was experimenting with a new cancer drug called Erbitux back in 2001. It had
submitted the drug for FDA approval and got denied. You’re thinking, yeah, so,
what does this have to do with Martha Stewart? Just hold on to your custom
boutique throw pillows, we’re getting to it. An ImClone co-founder was arrested
for advising family and friends to sell the stock before the FDA announcement
was made, knowing it would plummet the value. One of those friends was Stewart.
(Aha, now you’re getting it!) She sold some $200,000 worth of the doomed
ImClone stock, saving herself from $45,000 in losses. This is called “insider
trading” and it’s illegal. She was arrested in June of 2003 and later found
guilty of securities fraud and lying to federal investigators. The 62-year-old
home décor magnate was sentenced to five months of hard time, five months of
house arrest, and two years of probation. While she had to step down as CEO of
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, word is she still taught her fellow inmates
how to crochet a mean doily.
4. The Cast of Diff’rent Strokes
http://botswanaunplugged.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Behind_the_Camera_The_Unauthorized_Story_of_Diffrent_Strokes_Original.jpg
Fans of the early 80’s sit-com seemed to get pelted with a barrage of
bad news over the years as one cast member after another was arrested for
various crimes. In 1987, Todd Bridges received a suspended sentence after
pleading no contest to making a bomb threat. In 1988, he was tried and
acquitted for attempted murder after allegedly shooting drug dealer Kenneth
Clay eight times inside a crack house. Then in May of 1990, he was arrested
again for cocaine trafficking in North Hollywood. Co-star Dana Plato also had
multiple arrests, first for forging a drug prescription in 1982 (netting her 30
days in jail) and then for robbing a Las Vegas video store in 1991 with a
pellet gun (she skated by with five years’ probation). Even Gary Coleman was
taken into custody in 2010 when, during a civil disturbance involving his wife,
authorities learned that he had an outstanding warrant stemming from a prior
incident. His response when told of the warrant? “Whatchu talkin’ bout,
Willis?!” (Okay, that was bad.)
3. Mark Wahlberg http://media.urbantabloid.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cs1.jpg
On April 8th, 1988 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Wahlberg
violently attacked local Vietnamese resident Thanh Lam as Lam walked to his car
with some beer he had just bought. According to reports, Wahlberg spewed racial
epithets as he smashed Lam over the head with a five-foot-long wooden stick,
leaving him unconscious. While evading police, he approached another Vietnamese
man, Hoa Trinh, and punched him in the eye. Wahlberg initially believed that he
had blinded Trinh, but it was later revealed that Trinh had already lost that
eye in the Vietnam War. Wahlberg was initially charged with attempted murder,
but later plead guilty to the lesser charge of criminal contempt. He was given
a two-year sentence, but only served 45 days at Boston’s Deer Island House of
Correction. Many believe that this stint in the brig incentivized him to turn
his life around. And thank goodness it did, or we may have been forever
deprived of the exquisite melodies of that super group we all came to know and
love – The Funky Bunch.
2. Robert Blake http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/130715142342-06-acquittals-blake-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg
It seems almost like the plot of a Hollywood movie that Blake himself
might have starred in. On May 4th, 2001, the Baretta star went to dinner with his wife, Bonnie Bakley, at
Vitello’s in Studio City. Witnesses described their appearance as “unhappy.”
After the meal, she waited in the car on a side street while he went back to
retrieve a gun he had left inside (later determined by police not to be the murder weapon). Bakley was
shot to death in the car while he was gone. On April 18th, 2002,
Blake was arrested and charged with her murder, while his longtime bodyguard,
Earle Caldwell, was arrested for conspiracy. Two former stuntmen came forward
with stories that Blake tried to hire them to kill Bakley, and gun residue was
found on Blake’s hands shortly after the shooting. However, the defense team
was able to poke enough holes in the prosecution’s case to create reasonable doubt,
with jurors later describing the evidence against Blake as “flimsy.” Although
he was ultimately found not guilty, he later was forced to pay a $2 million
civil settlement to Bakley’s children. Ah, karma, the real killer.
1. OJ Simpson https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/rehost/2016/9/14/d67c5fb1-1c52-4e16-b565-7512ad779a1d.jpg
Perhaps one of the largest and saddest falls from grace is that of Mr.
Simpson – once a heralded football star, sports commentator and film actor. On
June 12th, 1994, the bodies of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron
Goldman were found brutally slain outside her Brentwood home. Five days later,
the LAPD requested that Simpson turn himself in on first degree murder charges;
instead, Simpson fled in a white Bronco owned by his friend Al Cowlings and
lead police on a long freeway chase that was beamed across the world via
helicopter news feeds. The trial lasted from January 24th to October
3rd, 1995, eventually resulting in a not guilty verdict and
Simpson’s freedom. However, like Blake, Simpson was later ordered to pay a
multi-million-dollar civil judgment to Nicole’s and Ron’s families. Then, on
September 13th, 2007, he was arrested again in an unrelated case and
ultimately found guilty of robbery, burglary and kidnapping. He is currently
serving a 33-year sentence in Nevada and will be eligible for parole on October
2nd, 2017, where he’ll likely have several reality show offers awaiting
him if released.
