Mel Gibson agrees to plea deal on domestic violence charges, avoids jail [Updated]

Mel Gibson is expected to plead guilty to a misdemeanor count of domestic violence, a law enforcement source told The Times on Wednesday.

The plea would end a months-long investigation into whether Gibson struck ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

Officials have said that case is closely tied to another investigation into an extortion case involving Gibson and Grigorieva. Prosecutors are still considering that case.

Gibson and Grigorieva also are locked in a bitter custody dispute over their year-old daughter, Lucia.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing, said if Gibson does plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge, he would face counseling but no jail time.

The source said the plea could be announced as early as Wednesday.

[Updated at 11:13 a.m.: Gibson’s attorney, Blair Berk, released a statement saying Gibson wanted a quick resolution to the case for the sake of his children and because of the “personal price” he would pay with the media attention that the case would have drawn.

“Mel's priority throughout all of this has been that the best interests of his young daughter Lucia and the rest of his children be put first in any decisions made,” she said in the statement. “It is with only that in mind that he asked me to approach the District Attorney with a proposal that would bring all of this to an immediate end.”]

[Updated, 9:58 p.m.: Other sources close to the case say Gibson will actually plead no contest to the charges. A no contest plea has the same effect in criminal court as a guilty plea.]

RELATED:

A look at secret negotiations in Mel Gibson case

Mel Gibson gets dumped from 'Hangover 2'

Mel Gibson thanks pal Charlie Sheen

Will video sale hurt Linday Lohan theft case?

-- Jack Leonard

Photo: Oksana Grigorieva and Mel Gibson. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Sharen]

Once again there is one justice system for the rich and famous, and another one for the rest of us. In no way does the punishment fit the crime. Mel Gibson should be serving jail time for assault and battery and uttering threats. The justice system has failed miserably for women and is stating that assaulting women and threatening to kill them is only a minor misdemeanor. It's no wonder that men believe that they can continue to assault women without major repercussions and women are afraid to report being assaulted.

[Bloodaxe]

Poor Mr. Gibson. That girl looks positively evil. A lot of the Russians who immigrate here turn out to be criminals. She is one of them- she'll take him to the cleaners. Like the Bible says- the devil can take a pleasing shape. ( or words to that effect)

[Methadras]

@Dan Durazo "Violence is never the way to solve anything."

Violence can solve a lot of problems. WW2 for example. Just sayin'.

[Tall Texan]

We interrupt this program about crisis in the Middle East, to bring you this breaking, more important news story, Mel Gibson ... Charlie Sheen .... Our media sucks.

[Kevin]

Reminds me of the Bob Dylan song

Heart of mine be still
You can play with fire but you’ll get the bill
Don’t let her know
Don’t let her know that you love her
Don’t be a fool, don’t be blind
Heart of mine

Heart of mine go back home
You got no reason to wander, you got no reason to roam
Don’t let her see
Don’t let her see that you need her
Don’t put yourself over the line
Heart of mine

Heart of mine go back where you been
It’ll only be trouble for you if you let her in
Don’t let her hear
Don’t let her hear you want her
Don’t let her think you think she’s fine
Heart of mine

Heart of mine you know that she’ll never be true
She’ll only give to others the love that she’s gotten from you
Don’t let her know
Don’t let her know where you’re going
Don’t untie the ties that bind
Heart of mine

[Michael Craft]

I read somewhere that Mel enjoys shooting guns at the range. Now that he has a DV conviction, the Lautenberg Amendment make it illegal for him to buy, sell, own, or possess any firearm.