Poundstone Gets Probation

Daily News Yahoo ^ | October 10 2001

[fourdeuce82d]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Reuters) - Comedian Paula Poundstone was sentenced Wednesday to five years probation, 180 days in an alcohol treatment program and told she could never be a foster parent again after she pleaded no contest to child endangerment charges.

The 41-year-old comedian, who entered an alcohol rehabilitation program in June, said in a statement after a sentencing hearing that drinking lay behind the charges which involved her two adopted children and three foster children.

``My drinking helped to create a dangerous situation for the children. For this I am very sorry. For my kids' sake as well as my own, I am determined to put my alcohol problems behind me,'' she said.

Poundstone was spared six months prison time by agreeing to remain in the live-in alcohol rehab program for another 55 days. She was also ordered to undertake 200 hours community service, attend a counseling program on child abuse and undergo psychiatric counseling once a week for a year.

Poundstone appeared in court for the hearing but did not speak to reporters afterward.

Her lawyer Steven Cron said the child endangerment charge stemmed from an incident in which Poundstone had driven four of her children to an ice cream store while she was intoxicated. She was not cited at the time and no accident occurred.

Earlier additional charges of committing a lewd act on a child were dropped by the prosecution last month. Poundstone, best known for her appearances on the television game show ``To Tell the Truth,'' said Wednesday those charges were simply not true. Officials have refused to release details of the charge, saying they wanted to protect the children involved.

Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Bernard Kamins said Poundstone must not hit or strike her children or use corporal punishment on them. He added: ``Your privilege to have foster children is terminated.''

Kamins put off until next month a request by Poundstone's lawyer that she be allowed to work as a comic while undergoing treatment at the alcohol rehab center.

``If I give someone a live-in drug or alcohol treatmentprogram instead of jail, it doesn't matter if they are a janitor, a TV photographer or a lawyer,'' Kamins said. <

``I don't want to treat her differently because of her status as someone in the spotlight,'' he added. <

Kamins wished Poundstone good luck, adding; ``I think her humor is unique and feel it is only going to get better after this life experience.''

[cksharks]

So much for some people on FR blaming the govt.

[Cagey]

I think her humor is unique and feel it is only going to get better after this life experience.''

Maybe she gave the judge a couple of tickets to "The Improv". What an idiotic remark for a judge to make. He sounds like he needs some rehab too.

[AppyPappy]

Protect the children, my butt. They would take all of her children if they wanted to do that. If she wasn't a lesbian, she would be toast.

[billorites]

So, cop a feel and cop a plea.

[mountaineer]

Okay, so she can't be a foster parent. What's to stop her from adopting a few more victims, er, children?

[DoughtyOne]

As much as I find Poundstone disgusting, I'd like to know more about the supposed lewd acts. Was there something there or not? I'd also like to know why the alcohol related charges were not filed? Was she intoxicated or not?

Is this simply another instance of a celebrity "getting off" or were these charges unsupportable from the get go?

[motexva]

The story I heard from a friend who works in entertainment media in California, and was accepted as fact by most of his coworkers and peers, is that one of the kids came home and Poundstone (BARF ALERT) was naked on a couch with her teenage foster daughter, who was also unclothed. He later told a babysitter or neighbor about the incident. She also (and I believe this is admitted by her publicly) drove around some of the kids while she smashed. Sounds like the judge suffered from Ito syndrome.

[ValerieUSA]

I think the judge should have forbidden her from using "her" children as joke fodder, too. Especially after calling them liars regarding the lewd conduct charges. Her defense is an offense to the children.

[The Energizer]

What happened to all the "lewd" behavior accusations?

[YOMO]

``My drinking helped to create a dangerous situation for the children. For this I am very sorry.

And most of all I am sorry that I got caught."

[Shermy]

She's screwed for life: her female fans will never forget this. As to the lewd conduct, many lawyers and others I meet have speculated what it could be. Of course there's the worst, but it could also be something more ranging around inappropriate nudity, hugging, etc. Who knows? Everyone's better off not prosecuting it, I guess. Her lawyer from almost day 1 did not play "blame the victim" or "It's totally false" but played up the alcoholism angle (drugs too?) and put her into rehab immediately. She looked horrible at her court appearances, worn out and beaten.

[Senator Pardek]

Time for the book deal and the Bobwa Wawa interview.

[boomop1]

Cheers ck!!

[motexva]

I think you've got it. I'll tell you, this situation out in California, where the cops and the judges CONSTANTLY give preferential treatments to celebrities, has got to be investigated. Any breaks lately in Robert Blake's wife's murder? Don't hold your breath.

[passionfruit]

Why did he allow her to keep any kids?

[genefromjersey]

Who cares about Paula ? We're faced with the real threat of terrorist attacks; and the misadventures of some " alternatively oriented " entertainer are about as important as the number of genies that can dance on the top of a camel turd !

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

bring back public stoning