Detectives examining alleged extortion attempt by Mel Gibson's ex-girlfriend

Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives were "looking into" whether Mel Gibson's ex-girlfriend tried to extort money from him in connection with a series of taped phone calls and allegations of domestic abuse, an official said Wednesday.

Sheriff's detectives already have been examining allegations by Oksana Grigorieva that Gibson hurt her and their child. Now, that inquiry has been expanded to include the extortion allegations, said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the sheriff's department.

Sources familiar with the ongoing domestic-abuse investigation said detectives met with Gibson's lawyers Tuesday.

Gibson's lawyers have strongly denied allegations of domestic abuse against the film star.

Sheriff's detectives obtained the audio tapes during a recent closed-door hearing in the Gibson-Grigorieva child custody case. 

There has been debate about whether the recordings would be admissible even if a domestic violence case were to go to criminal court.

Of the audio clips released by Radar Online, the most damaging in a criminal case likely would be an exchange in which Gibson apparently told Grigorieva that she "deserved" to be hit.

But the volatile conversation, in which Gibson also uses derogatory terms for women, Latinos and African Americans, was apparently recorded without the "Lethal Weapon" star's permission.

In California, both parties must consent to have a phone conversation recorded. Under normal circumstances, legal experts said, that would make the Gibson tapes unusable in court and their recording potentially a crime.

-- Richard Winton

Photo credit: Kirk McCoy / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Uber]

This whole thing seems as if it is a setup. Her voice is calculated. If she were afraid she would have been to the police along time ago. There is no way to excuse his actions, but if she were afraid and not out to destroy him we would probably not know any of this. Now say GOLD DIGGER

[Amanda]

I am sorry.. I do not believe any thing this woman is saying. We all get mad at our spouses and say things we don't mean. I think she has planned All of this, it is truly unfortunate. I am on your side Mel.

[Tee]

A lawyer I am not, but from my standpoint - Mel's recorded reply to her comment about being hit in the face - proves nothing. It's simply an opinion.

Honestly speaking there are many people I feel who deserve a smack in the mouth - that doesn't mean I would ever inflict it on them.

[Jacqueline Glasgow]

Somethings in life are said out of context , all of the conversations pre or post will never be heard , and as to the final result that is for alot of the puppeteirs to display to us ,their take on it as all, Its an opinion , people watching or hearing something , know its only the tip of the iceburg and not all that was said has been recorded , both sides included its ashame , that the media has decided not to go for the bigger story ! the truth !

[Sean Chen]

He's an ass, but he was still set up by his ex.

I'm certain most people would find themselves judged harshly if their "heat of the moment" arguments were judged by Monday Morning Quarterbacks.

[Tee]

And, though I know neither of these people personally - in my opinion - the ex is a conniving, gold-digger and Mel should be more careful with his assets AND his heart.

He owes that much to his children.

[Support Mel]

The "Family Guy" cartoon can make a derogatory song about a woman with Downs Syndrome, calling her a "whore"...and Hollywood nominates it for an Emmy. Broadcast intentionally for the public to see in the open. This should offend women and those who want to protect the most vulnerable.

However, leaked private tapes of Mel's get out he's a Pariah. Bad judgement and insensitive...sure.

Where's the perspective and balance?

[Ed]

Making the recordings was a crime; the question is will Steve Cooley prosecute it.

[Bo Tat]

Ohm mani padme hum.

I pray for Mel and hisex girlfriend.

For they are both spiritual beings.

They ust don't know it yet.

They are misled by illusions of ego. The wolrd of Mara.

The only way to reach permanent happiness is to follow the spiritual path.

Ohm shante.

[Sheila - NYC]

Google and read the article,

"BLOOD AND MONEY, A MEL GIBSON EPIC".

It is a fantastic read about this Mel Gibson debacle by a celebrity attorney and legal analyst.

[CT. Morris]

I back Mel 100%. At least he speaks his mind. The Russian is a gold digger.

[Rocco]

Even if admissible as evidence, assaulting her verbally does not mean he assaulted her physically. People are too quick sometimes to make that leap.

[Hypatia]

'bout time.

[woof-woof]

I highly recommend listening to the recordings. The news reports don't come close to capturing his abusiveness.

[Duped Tax Payer]

Ex is gold digger. Simple as that.

[Kathy]

Grigorieva is a gold digger. She is fake inside and outside. Send her back to Russia.

[bill]

in the pictures of the "radar" site - all we see is the woman's teeth veeners missing in some teeth. there were no missing teeth, there was no blood, there was no swelling there was no "black eyes" or obvious broken nose etc. you would think if she was really hit that there would be at least quite a bloody lip - but nothing, only missing veneers, this seems real suspect to me.

[Baffled Observer]

I feel seriously sorry for their child.

[Baffled Observer]

I feel seriously sorry for their child.

[El Guapo de la ciudad de Los Angeles]

Deport this wire tapping , Russian extortionist now.

[karen lee]

It's about time the truth started coming out. Mel should sue both the Russian gold digger and her partner in crime (*Radar) for collusion in his extortion. Radar deliberately set up this steady DRUM-BEAT of releasing SEGMENTS so it would boost their hits & totally destroy Mel Gibson.
Anybody with a brain can hear HER reading a script that is SO OUT OF WHACK w/mel's responses -- IT HAS TO BE EDITED and Radar has to KNOW IT, too. Which is why they are DELIBERATELY libeling Gibson.
THE BABY'S "bruise" is nothing but A COLD SORE. Every mother recognizes those kinds of marks. The gold digger is so STUPID, neither of her trumped up PHOTOS show ANY bruises! There is NO WAY a baby could be HIT and not suffer massive trauma. WHAT DID SHE DO TO CAUSE THE COLD SORE??

A woman LOST HER JOB because of unscrupulous editing such as this! The longer "these kinds" of people are allowed to GET AWAY with crooked stuff like this -- the sadder the state of our world!

[sls]

I seriously concur with Baffled. My heart goes out to the child unfortunately born to these two people.

[Poor Mel]

Lets be honest. No one ever heard of this woman before May of 2009. She dated Mel for, like, five minutes before she got pregnant. They did not marry. This whole story has all the earmarks of some chick who went after the richest guy she could find in a very unsettled time in his life and of course he bought it, hook, line and sinker.

They had a baby and now they are breaking up. Mel will of course support his baby girl as he has always supported his seven other children with his wife Robin. That takes care of business but not Oksana's dreams of being wealthy and famous. She had to set up this little scenario to try and hit the big payday that unbelievably she thinks she deserves.

California is a community property state. Half the money goes to Robin, as it rightly should. What did Miss "O" do to warrant receiving b-zillions? She already has the house Mel bought her. She doesn't deserve to be set up for life. She deserves to be in jail for extortion.

[jen]

People need to realize....We only got to hear the parts of their conversations that Oksana wanted us to hear.

We did not get to hear every conversation that they ever had.

We did not get to watch what went on in the entire relationship.

I also must say...If I thought someone I cared about was trying to extort money from me, I know I would be pretty darn Angry too.

I'm not saying that that excuses what he said in those tapes...im just saying lets be fair.

[Genna]

To woof-woof:

Who would WANT to listen to those recordings? Putting the possibility aside that they have been altered, it is still no one's business. If they are a true account, the proper authorities should have been notified of these recordings from day one, and not "leaked" to the entire world...for, I suspect, a price. Something isn't right, here.