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

[Slick Jr.]

We should post Judge Mira's address on the internet and allow people to protest or better yet, throw their empty beer bottle into his yard. On another note, why not post his address and challenge gang members to conduct gang initiations on his family. Our safety isn't any better with a drunken arrogant catholic dog driving around LA County. Why should the judge be allowed to endanger county taxpayers?
It must be that he's a cross dressing Barred Shark!

[jmoore]

Again we see how hollywoods finest get justice and the poor get the law. It makes me sick.

[I AM AMERICA]

Congratualtions to Mel Gibson! He did the right thing, the Christian thing by admitting his crime and doing his time, whatever that was. He didn't skip out of the country and become a fguitive to evade the consequences of a much more heinous, insidious crime, like Polanski...

[JenSz]

The "Update" at 10:35 a.m. was probably posted AFTER all of the comments questioning the fairness of this expungement. I myself suggested that the author explain whether this expungement procedure is routine or an anomalous, and shortly after I submitted my comment, the update went up answering this question (though my comment was never posted, understandably enough).

So no need to scold all the people who speculated on whether this is routine: they probably submitted comments before the Update was added. I contend it was terribly sloppy writing in to leave this question unanswered when the story was first posted.

[Hendl]

Richard P, read some Jewish history before you open your mouth. The Jewish religion began in the Middle east; "Zionism" is not a religion, as much as you would like it to be one. It is a 'belief system', just as some people in the U.S. believe that we should send more troops to Afghanistan. Jews have lived ALL OVER the world, including countries that are nowhere near Europe, like the Arab countries. One main reason they've had to move is that they've been kicked out of so many places, by anti-Semites like you.And - I laughed out loud when reading "Gibson's remarks were intended to be anti-Zionist but pro-Semitic" Huh! You couldn't possibly have read his remarks; but, then again, maybe you were there with him - after all, the two of you do share the same 'belief system'.

[Nicholas Calavera]

I believe as a first offense DUI conviction the punishment fits the crime. As far as the anti-semitic comments. Let's face it Hollywood is run basically by Jews and Italians. The reason being; it was the first industry that these immigrants were accepted. I worked in the entertainment industry in the late 90's and worked with many celebrities and producers, directors etc. People are people black, white, red, Jewish, Moslem and Christian. There is a bad one in every race and creed. The Jews, Christians and Moslems all study from the basic "old book". Christians have a second book "The New Testament". Do the Jews start all the wars? Probably there has been incidents througout history where Popes and Sultans have started wars as well. I am pretty sure if you think back to early Western Civilization,one will find that war has always been about repression and profit. With that said, I am sorry that in this day and age we as civilized human beings can not accept one another for who we are HUMANS flesh and blood.

[bruce]

to richard p: as an ashkenazi jew i would appreciate your not deciding for me what i have or have not rejected. also, i see you must be a mind reader noting what good old mel was intending to convey. uhpyerz.

[aaron]

use whatever EXCUSE you want its all bull!!

go to any courtroom..go to a TRAFFIC court room the most minor of them all and listen to how cold and thoughtless the judges are..as they talk to people who didnt stop fully at a stop sign as if they are the dirt of the city. they are the most harden criminals bringing down our society

then lets do a little thinking here.

when black men young or old run from custody in just about every metro in the US they are shot or beat..we know this because the first reason ALWAYS given by police is " he was resisting arrest"...

Gibson didnt just drive drunk..he then created a public scene aka PUBLIC INTOXICATION..he then ran from the cops..RESISTING ARREST..make threats to the cops while yelling racist slurs..this is called making a TERRORIST THREAT..go read your patriot act. it also then made everything he did after a HATE CRIME

see if this would have been a minority rich or poor.. he would have got slapped with ALL CHARGES and made a spectacle of..

Plaxico Buress..iin jail..Mike Vick ..went to jail..how many people die each year in dog fighting rings?..how many people die from self inflicted NON SUICIDAL gun shots?..how many people die each year being killed by drunk drivers??

lets just admit most people and the society as a whole we live in are FULL OF CRAP..no one has any integrity and we live in the most corrupt legal system in worlds history where any vote verdict or motion can be brought with the right level of money or fame..

[Charles Rinehart]

He got no "special treatment". If you read the ENTIRE article, he did what everybody is entitled to: expungement of the offense.
Hate to tell people this, but he did what was required.
You can hate what he said, but so what? Like most people, he was feeling a good buzz, and got carried away. You don't have to like him, but to hold him to a different standard because he's famous?
Hypocritical. This law and order mentality is ridiculous, and overbearing.
So let me get this right-if you're famous, you're supposed to do double the penance. Even though the law is supposed to be applied equally.

[m]

SO WHAT IF HE MADE ANTI-SEMITIC COMMENTS. WHO CARES... EVERYONE KNOWS JEWS ARE OBNOXIOUS. BIG DEAL!!! YOU CAN ONLY MILK YOUR HOLOHOAX A LITTLE LONGER. PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP. IN TRUTH I AM SURPRISED THEY LET HIM OFF. I WAS SURE THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THAT.

[I AM AMERICA]

To Hendl (posting at 2.41);

You raise an interesting question which is often asked but never answered, (or answered glibly like you said "because of anti-semitism" which prevents any further discussion) why have the chosen tribesemen been kicked out of so many countries...hmmmm...Bernie Maddof, Roman Polanski, Harvey Weinstein, Goldamn Sachs, Lehman Bros., the Columbine killers, the USS Liberty, Rachel Corrie, Brain Avery...the list goes on and on...

[caliche]

Can we just be done with this? Sure, Mel had his clown costume on that night.

Who hasn't done something so embarrassing that they cringe when they recall it - sometimes years later?

We can all stipulate that Mel was a fool. Now, is there a good baseball game on?

[Alicia]

Now that Mel Gibson's conviction for drunk driving has been expunged, perhaps the authorities in Malibu can resume their search for the still-missing Mitrice Richardson, who was arrested under similar circumstances as the famous Mel Gibson. Instead of getting a personal ride home from a deputy (as Mel did), she was released in the middle of the night without her car, which had been impounded. Nobody's seen her since.

[Independent skeptic]

Gibson showed what's in his heart in that rambling, not so drunk outburst. To all Gibson defenders, he indeed followed his probation, but he showed us all what he really thinks.

He's a Jew hating jerk.

[Annie]

Surprise surprise. Hollywood numbskulls get preferential treatment again. Why is Polanski bothering to fight extradition. The authorities will bring him back here and pat him on the head.

[Annie]

Surprise surprise. Hollywood numbskulls get preferential treatment again. Why is Polanski bothering to fight extradition. The authorities will bring him back here and pat him on the head.

[Gary]

Well, it is a standard procedure in California when the person complies with ALL the requirements. I don't agree, but I think allowing moving violations to be reduced to parking tickets for an extra fee is as corrupt as it gets. And that's the way they do it here. Go figure ?

[Ron]

Four comments .... Expungement, which does not erase the conviction, is routine; Judge Mira, a total a-hole by all accounts, had his own drunk driving conviction expunged at one point; the recorded interaction with Gibson SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE public as would any such interaction with police in a public place; Mel was right about one thing... the arresting officer was Jewish.

Read whatever you wish into my comments, but these are facts.

[gary phenix]

WAY TO SAY IT R P !!!!!!!!

[Bart]

This man is a creap. We know his true feeling about people of Jewish faith. Hope he gets his payback someday for his mean views and comments. I will never watch any of his movies again and I hope he just goes away. Hey Mel please move out of this country.

[Nancy]

How can one get record exsponged like Mel. All my responsility executed immediatley. Young (7-8 yr olds have no business throwing firecrackers at cars at midnight,no parental responsibity. UM! now probably in gangs.Many yrs ago. How much $$$$ to get exsponged?

[the black swann...florida]

it's typical anyone who has power,wealth or fame,and gets into trouble they always find a way to 'minimize it' no matter if its a minor violation or murder or anything in between.if the rich do something its 'an accident or tragic mistake' if you or i do it? its a major crime and that shoe is going to be sticking out our rear! but if they do it..lets just have a pillow fight and forget it girls!.you or me they are going to 'MAXIMIZE IT'all of us have been watching this go on for a very long time in politic's,sports,hollywood,and simply those whose who wallets and purses are bursting with greenbacks.

[Big Sam]

Mel Gibson is a flawed person. He went through a completely uncalled for bashing over his film "The Passion Of The Christ" before it was even released by B'nai Brith and the Jewish Anti Defamation League all of whom were screaming that the film was anti-semitic. B.S.

It was as good a film that Hollywood has produced in years and it brought nothing but heartbreak to Gibson from the previously mentioned groups and Jewish individuals without them ever seen the film. So if he went nuts, it is understandable. Add to that his alcoholism and raging temper and he lit up like a pinball machine during his arrest. (Pretty psychotic Mel...but you had been beat up enough already).

[Michael - Newport Beach, CA]

I would have gone to jail. This is ridiculous.

[John, Newport Beach]

He did go to jail, it's the conviction that's overturned bonehead