Charlie Sheen pleads not guilty to assaulting wife

Reuters ^ | Ellen Miller

[OldDeckHand]

ASPEN, Colo, March 15 (Reuters) - Actor Charlie Sheen pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of assaulting his wife, who had previously asked for the case to be dropped.

Sheen, 44, the star of America's most-watched TV comedy "Two and a Half Men", entered his plea though his lawyer at a brief court hearing in the ski resort of Aspen.

The court set a July 21 trial date, although Sheen's wife, Brooke Mueller, has told journalists repeatedly that she would like the case dropped.

[OldDeckHand]

TMZ is reporting that the only plea deal the DA was offering was for a felony, but with no jail time. Sheen wouldn't bite. It now becomes a game of chicken. I can't stand the Sheen, but the DA's case isn't very strong, especially considering the alleged victim has been in rehab for the last 5 weeks.

It would be nice to see Sheen do a nickel for felonious spousal abuse.

[Gay State Conservative]

A 10 million dollar diamond will seal his wife's lips.”Case dismissed!”

[OldDeckHand]

"A 10 million dollar diamond will seal his wife's lips.”Case dismissed!” "

I should have added that the complaining witness - Sheen's wife - is already non-compliant. That's makes the prosecution's case that much more difficult, although spousal privilege doesn't attach to DV cases so they could compel her testimony.

[apillar]

...his wife, who had previously asked for the case to be dropped.

How want you wanna bet, she will conveniently be out of the country about the time for subpoenas to go out for the trial... And if she doesn't its case dismissed.

[Leo Farnsworth]

“....”Case dismissed!”

Uh, not true. As unbelievable as it is, in domestic abuse situations, even if the wife does not want charges pressed (and I believe this is true in this case) it does not matter.

Sheen will be prosecuted regardless. It's the law.

Unless, of course, it happened on an Indian reservation and nothing will be done whatsoever...

[hinckley buzzard]

It is not the wife's call. Many an impulsive woman has found to her dismay that when she hollers accusations of violence the law takes over from there. She can change her mind but the case is out of her hands.

[Gay State Conservative]

If the diamond (or Mercedes...or vacation villa) is big enough she'd be able to derail it.”Oh,I fell down”...”I was off my medications”...etc,etc.

[newfreep]

Red Eye has a good discussion of Sheen’s “Pre-hab”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUNJSp31dF0

[Leo Farnsworth]

Sorry. This is IMPOSSIBLE. It's a Federal law.

Why does it exist? Because an abusive husband can ‘threaten’ his battered spouse with even more abuse if she does not drop charges. So, a wife now cannot take back the charge.

Unintended consequences.

[Gay State Conservative]

Sorry. This is IMPOSSIBLE. It's a Federal law.

Impossible? Do you really believe that there's *anything* that's "impossible" in *any* courtroom in this country....be it a traffic court in Maplewood,Minnesota or the Supreme Court of the United States?

If so,we should talk...I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I'd like you to consider.

[SoldierDad]

And some ocean beach front property in Nebraska!!!

[Leo Farnsworth]

Look, your notion was for Sheen to give his wife a $10,000,000 diamond...

She doesn't want the case prosecuted, so a diamond or house won't do a thing.

The prosecutor is compelled by federal law to prosecute.

That's why your notion is IMPOSSIBLE.

[Gay State Conservative]

The prosecutor is compelled by federal law to prosecute.That's why your notion is IMPOSSIBLE.

I was thinking more in terms of "conviction" than "prosecution".But then,if she was to make it clear from the start that she would,through her testimony and in other ways,thwart his efforts in every way she could the prosecutor could very well decide not to proceed to trial...Federal law or no Federal law.