Barton Seeks Plea for Drunk Driving Bust

Reuters
Posted: 2008-04-08 07:03:42
Filed Under: Star Scandals, TV News
LOS ANGELES (April 8) - Actress Mischa Barton, who starred on television drama "The O.C.," has agreed to serve three years probation for drunken driving, allowing her to avoid jail and escape a charge for marijuana possession, according to a report on People.com.

The celebrity news Web site cited an unnamed source as saying Barton will plead no contest, which is similar to a guilty plea, pay a small fine and attend three months of an alcohol education class.

One charge of marijuana possession will be dropped and another charge of driving without a license will be reduced to a traffic violation, according to People.com.

The plea is expected to be entered at an arraignment set for Thursday.

Barton, 22, was arrested in the Los Angeles area in the early morning hours of Dec. 27 after being stopped by police, who said her car was straddling two lanes of traffic while being driven.

Police said Barton also failed to signal when making a turn.

The actress portrayed teenage beauty Marissa Cooper on "The O.C.," a drama about young people growing up in an affluent county south of Los Angeles. The show ended its run on U.S. television in 2006, and the actress has several film projects scheduled to land in theaters later this year.

A spokesman for Barton was not immediately available to comment.

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2008-04-08 07:03:42
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Recent Comments

1 - 15 of 116
116 comments

omr24 08:49:51 PM Apr 08 2008

I hope she learned her lesson. She only has three or four more chances till shes' treated like the rest of us

stellalunafluffy 06:37:17 PM Apr 08 2008

Just another "special person" getting out of legal trouble.
If only we were ALL special.

I say throw the book at her. No dropping some of the charges.

mph3000 06:04:51 PM Apr 08 2008

send her in and ill pay for all the vaseline she needs

sealteam1962 05:03:09 PM Apr 08 2008

she should serve prison time she aint because she is rich any body else would do time what bs

boringnaples 04:48:26 PM Apr 08 2008

Igot 6 months in the county jail for a DUI, how fair is this. It's really disgusting!!!!

neaeinc 03:09:04 PM Apr 08 2008

And in the real world we all be doing 6 months to a year in jail. Nice how they can get away with this SH IT . And they say we are all equal. Well their's one thing true about justice it's blind!!!!

Tigerlillyflies 02:52:26 PM Apr 08 2008

Im getting sick and tired of these celebritys getting off so easy on DUI's and drug charges,I don't care how much money they flash at the legal system they should get the same treatment as everyone else.

pincesdutches15 02:50:07 PM Apr 08 2008

Hey Judge lets just overlook the fact she was drunk and could have killed someone family member all because she is a celebrity. so in the short term of all this she didnt know it was wrong to drink and drive as a judge you should be harder on celebreties they have the money to pay for a limo disbar the judge

nh2tn 02:29:35 PM Apr 08 2008

Once again, Another..I live in Gollywood so just slap my wrist and let me get some press on this. I need to feel better about being a useless human being like all the others before me and those who will follow. Please let me use my industry wide "Im special" get out of jail free card. $$$ talks big in California...please keep them all there so they dont pollute the rest of the nation.

athenaalp3863 02:28:41 PM Apr 08 2008

I will never understand why people think this girl is so great. She is so not pretty and to top it off, at the age of 17, she looked like she was in her 30s..wtf

cresults4u 02:24:43 PM Apr 08 2008

A novel idea how to get rich:

Take some lessons on how to get hit by a car and survive. Then start taking strolls around hollywood and malibu area after 2am, and look for the drunk driver weaving around, knowing the chances are high they are a celebrity, then throw yourself in front of their car, make sure you have witnesses, and you can then sue them for everything they have. At minimum you could get a few Mil for a broken leg or arm.

AboundInGoodness 02:09:52 PM Apr 08 2008

placedorders,
Want to make her pay? One year of house arrest. No work for a year will have a perminate mark etched in her mind and pocket book without costing the tax payers a cent.
-------------------------------------
How about prison for two years with work release? She has to get a low-paying job, like at Walmart, and use that money to pay for her expenses in prison.

BERGMICHA6 02:09:00 PM Apr 08 2008

What is the big deal about Mischa Barton? She kind of lots like "ET"

Ajaphnx27brks 02:07:06 PM Apr 08 2008

Let's not forget that alcohol is a drug, though it is legalized, and DUI results show statistically the dangers to other drivers driving drunk.

ALWAYS GET A FRIEND TO DRIVE OR CALL A CAB. DON'T BE LIKE THIS BORRACHA!

AboundInGoodness 02:05:31 PM Apr 08 2008

So, she got NO punishment at all???? She could have killed someone. That's BS!

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