No Jail Time for Charlie Sheen in Assault Case
Charlie Sheen just pulled off the biggest upset of the year in the world of celebrity crime. Sheen got no jail time despite allegedly assaulting his wife, Brooke Mueller, on Christmas Day 2009. Sheen allegedly threatened to kill Mueller and held a knife to her throat. Sheen pleaded guilty Monday to misdemeanor third-degree assault. As part of the plea deal, the prosecution dropped felony charges against Sheen.
Sheen, star of television sitcom "Two and a Half Men," was filmed leaving the courthouse grinning and blowing kisses to a crowd of fans and paparazzi eager to capture some Charlie Sheen news. He may spend 30 days at Promises Treatment Center in Malibu undergoing anger management treatment, although even that is in doubt, CBS reports. Sheen has already spent 93 hours at Promises this year, and has already completed 36 hours of anger management, which could count against his sentence. So in the end, Sheen will likely have just 30 days of probation. Not bad at all, considering what he was accused of. Lindsey Lohan should really get Yale Galanter, Sheen's attorney, on her speed dial.
CBS news quoted Sheen as saying that he looked forward to moving on with his life. "I look forward to complying with the court's decision, getting on with my life and putting this behind me."
It is easy to focus on the celebrity aspect of the case and gloss over the fact that domestic violence is a serious issue. It comes in many varieties including physical abuse, threats, psychological abuse, stalking, blackmail and more. Abuse should always be taken seriously. One option to consider if you're being abused is a temporary restraining order. In most states, the victim of an abuser can obtain a TRO even if they are not married, as long as they live together.
Related Resources:
- What Is Domestic Violence? (FindLaw)
- Domestic Violence FAQ (FindLaw)
- Philly Domestic Abuse Cases Call for New Police Policies (FindLaw's Blotter)
- Role of Domestic Violence in Divorce (provided by Stolar & Associates, A Professional Law Corporation)