Mel Gibson's 2006 drunk driving conviction expunged [Updated]

A judge today agreed to expunge Mel Gibson's conviction that followed an infamous Malibu drunk driving arrest in which the actor made anti-Semitic comments to a sheriff's deputy.

As part of his 2006 conviction, Gibson agreed to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, perform in public service announcements and pay $1,300 in fines to resolve the drunk driving case.

[Updated at 10:35 a.m.: As a first-time drunk-driving offender, Gibson was eligible to have the conviction removed from his record after completing the terms of his probation. The expunging request and procedure is routine and took place before Judge Lawrence J. Mira during a 90-second hearing.]

A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy stopped Gibson in July 2006 on Pacific Coast Highway after he was spotted driving his Lexus sedan over 85 mph. A breathalyzer test showed Gibson's blood-alcohol level to be .12%; the legal limit is .08%.

Sheriff’s officials initially described the arrest as “without incident.”

But after the celebrity website TMZ.com obtained the arrest report detailing Gibson’s profane outbursts, attempt to escape custody and repeated threats to the arresting deputy, critics charged that the actor had received special treatment by authorities.

In his initial report, Sheriff’s Deputy James Mee described how Gibson “bolted” from custody and how he chased the actor back to Gibson’s car and handcuffed him.

In addition, the report detailed repeated threats against Mee made by Gibson, who said he “owned Malibu” and would “get even” with the deputy.

The report also detailed Gibson’s “barrage of anti-Semitic remarks,” in which he said, “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,” before asking the deputy, who is Jewish: “Are you a Jew?”

Department officials decided to place that portion of the report under lock and key in an effort to prevent immediate public disclosure, while only a narrative of the basic facts was made available to station personnel.

-- Richard Winton

Photo: Mug shot taken after Gibson's 2006 arrest. Credit: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Previously on latimes.com

Gibson uses plea deal to resolve case

Gibson arrested on suspicion of DUI

Critics find voice in Gibson drama

Opinion: Slurring more than his words

Column: The shame is that so few say `shame'

Comments

[Mike]

Huh?

Probation for a first offense DUI is 3 years. According to the CA Vehicle Code, 2 points stay on one's record for 10 years.

[smc]

I don't have a problem with Gibbie doing what anyone else could do in that system. As has been noted several times, it's not uncommon to have a first time DWI expunged if probation is completed without incident.

My problem isn't with Gibbie. My problem is with the practice of expunging a DWI conviction. What is THAT all about. Petty theft? Maybe. Drunk/Disorderly, maybe. But DRIVING while under the influence? Not a chance. We should NEVER expunge DWI. I just don't get it. Have we learned NOTHING by all of the DWI deaths over the years?

[bruce]

does anyone think or read before commenting? at least in CA, first time convictions for ANYONE may be expunged. i am not a mel gibson by any stretch. he can go to hell. still i can't believe the # of comments about : he has money for this thing, oh, celebrities get anything, wah wah wah. try reading first.

[Brian Rock]

Good for him. I hope he can go back to living his life without people lambasting him for exercising his 1st Amendment right.

[Marcia Twane]

This poster made an excellent point:

Having the DUI expunged is routine. What is not routine, and stinks, is that if a mere mortal were to run from an officer, verbally abuse an officer, and threaten an officer, there would have been more charges than simple DUI. He's a prejudiced dirt bag whose fame and money got him special treatment. What else is new?

Posted by: junglek | October 06, 2009 at 12:02 PM

[Marcia Twane]

This poster made an excellent point:

Having the DUI expunged is routine. What is not routine, and stinks, is that if a mere mortal were to run from an officer, verbally abuse an officer, and threaten an officer, there would have been more charges than simple DUI. He's a prejudiced dirt bag whose fame and money got him special treatment. What else is new?

Posted by: junglek | October 06, 2009 at 12:02 PM

[RKW]

Talk about reverse discrimination. Mr. Gibson complied with the conditions set forth by the judicial system. Case closed. It is not illegal to "not like" people of any race, religon, lifestyle choice or country of origin in the U.S.A. As much as some groups would like it to be.

[LA Native]

Expunging for these things isn't that unusual. I know it is high profile and people want to think he got special treatment and I do not condone anything that he did, imagine if he had hurt someone!
Regardless he completed the terms of his conviction (and DUI's rarely see jail time even though they should), he requested it to be expunged like many normal people do every day and he was successful.

[Luiz Silverio B.Borges]

It is the way it should be. Let us wait pray and see if Mr. Gibson will respect the confidence he was given this time.After all he is the" Brave Heart".

[Vera L]

Mr Gibson, I admire your artistic work very much !

However, I would not have wiped out your police records so fast.
Not so much because I look at drunk driving or speeding as forgettable offences, but because of your "confessions" during the arrest : " Fucking Jews... Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world ". I know you apologized, but, I wonder, do you still take "ad-literam" John 14:6 ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me") ? I doubt Maia Morgenstern (a Romanian Jew), who plaid Mary in your film admires you for this ...

[bruce]

to blogstein: sadly, we all have opinions. even yours is valid however shortsighted and narrow. gibson is a jerk. hmmm.... i don't feel i just wasted MY time.

[bruce]

to READER: re: morons. as i finished my comment hit POST and scrolled down, for a brief moment thought i was reading my own post. hooray for your comment.

[Been There]

DUI Counselor is right, when probation ends that department is supposed to make a recommendation that all conditions have been met and dismiss the case, but they are so overloaded they don't and most people don't know this and can't afford a lawyer to take care of it. And then even dismissed it hangs over you in the event of another crime. I have never heard of a DUI being expunged, that DUI is good as #1 for 10 yrs in CA so if you get another in 10 yrs it's #2 and heavier. Why not spend his money intelligently and hire a driver instead of handing it to the courts and lawyers.

[Brian Rock]

Good for him. Maybe now the press and others can stop lambasting him for simply exercising his 1st Amendment rights.

[Richard P]

So-called "Jews" kill Semites to take their land. Their religion is Zionism, a European religion, not a Semitic one. (Some do use Jewish ritual, but they do reject the covenant between the people of Moses and the god of the Jews.) Their racial origin is from central Europe, earlier from central Asia.

Gibson's remarks were an exaggeration of the truth, but more true than the standard myth propagated by the Zionists. They were intended to be anti-Zionist, but pro-Semitic.

[Richard C.]

These are people who come here from another contry, make a career here, tones of money ( I mean tones !!! ), live in the best part of town, enjoy life to its fullest, and yet they can't keep from making a moquery out of our system , they can't keep from being prejudice (racist), they can keep from humiliating you (I own Malibu!), in a few words... they can't keep from being themselves

[John Rose]

He only did and said what many "non tribesmen" think. Chosen ones LET IT GO. YPU WILL ALWAYS BE HATED REGARDLESS.

[Robert]

Interesting concept, expunging a conviction, especially for an offense that could have resulted in the death of others. My daughter was forced to declare bankruptcy over seven years ago and still, despite having worked, paid taxes, and paid cash for everything since then, thanks to our system of justice for all, cannot get credit at a reasonable interest rate. I wonder if she could get her record expunged, too?

[bruce]

oh!! hey rockhead! i almost forgot to remind you that i think mel bigotson is a piece of rotting stinking puke. can't wait to lamblast him some more. the jerk is obviously a nazi sympathizer just like his old man. and by the way, this comment of mine is protected by the 1st amendment and as you so rightly have let us all know, nasty speech is legal.

[Bill - Santa Clarita CA]

Gibson is one disgusting individual who needs to deported. Why should he be given special treatment by Judge Lawrence J. Mira? It's basically crusaders looking out for one another and they're molesting the people of the state. they're dogs to the bone!

[Bill - Santa Clarita CA]

Gibson is one disgusting individual who needs to deported. Why should he be given special treatment by Judge Lawrence J. Mira? It's basically crusaders looking out for one another and they're molesting the people of the state. they're dogs to the bone!

[bruce]

to thetruth: since you are so concerned with the truth, if you don't already know, mel gibson has made many many many millions of dollars working for the jews that run movie companies. i don't know your personal feelings but, to all those who wish to pee and moan about jews owning so many movie companies, i am sure there are plenty of wealthy gentiles that can make movies without jews and i am pretty sure they already do. so what's the problem other than bigotry?

[Willie]

Mel is a good reason to start a Holocaust against Catholics and pay them back for all of the crusades. The reason they're living the pedophile lifestyle is because they're living their lives in JC image. His mother was god's concubine, thus the illegitimate child is made a god and non-believers were persecuted. When Mel goes to his bastard religions heaven, he'll need to get on his knees and service ole St. Pete's peter.

[Bob]

He should have raped a 13 year old then Hollywood have forgived him in 2007.

[Big T]

This is pretty standard. I know at least 2 common folk who have had their convictions expunged. It's the law, not Mel Gibson.