Noxzema Girl Sentenced for Manslaughter

Yahoo News ^ | 10/28/01 | E! Online

[michaelje]

Gayheart Sentenced for Manslaughter

Rebecca Gayheart has managed to avoid jail time for the June accident in which she hit and killed a young boy.

The visibly shaken actress, who was facing up to a year in county jail, pleaded no contest in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday to a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge.

In exchange for her plea, she was sentenced to three years' probation, a one-year suspension of her license, a $2,800 fine and a whopping 750 hours of community service. She was also ordered to make a public-service announcement.

The 29-year-old former Noxzema Girl, accompanied to the courthouse by her attorney, Harland Braun, and her fiancé, Rush Hour director Brett Ratner, nodded her head somberly as the judge spoke to her. Several times during the hearing she wiped tears from her eyes.

While Gayheart entered and exited without speaking to reporters, Braun held an impromptu press conference outside the courthouse, where he described how devastated his client was.

"It was the worst thing that could ever have happenend to her, killing a child," the lawyer said. "She feels terrible."

He said she will likely perform her community service by addressing schoolchildren, parents and motorists on proper street-crossing safety and driving awareness. Her PSA will also pick up that theme.

"They're thinking about a video that really highlights the dangers of jaywalking, of drivers who don't stop when other cars have stopped, [and] parents who don't properly educate their children," said Braun, who added that the Gayheart did not catch any breaks from the judge because of her celebrity.

The ex-Beverly Hills, 90201 actress was cruising through Hollywood on June 13 in a friend's '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee when she struck 9-year-old Jorge Cruz Jr. as he jaywalked across the street.

While several cars stopped to let him go, Gayheart allegedly swerved around the traffic and into a two-way left-turn lane, striking the boy . The child was taken to L.A.'s Children's Hospital where he died the next day.

Police interviewed Gayheart at the scene of the accident, but did not arrest her because she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. After investigating the case, the Los Angeles City Attorney decided to file the manslaughter charge against Gayheart in October.

The boy's parents, Jorge Cruz and Silvia Martinez, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit August 6 against Gayheart, citing her negligence as the reason for their son's death. Braun told reporters outside the courtroom that Gayheart was fully insured and he believed the civil suit would be settled without going to trial.

Gayheart, who paid for Cruz's hospital and funeral expenses, has also offered to pay for grief counseling for the parents, Braun added.

The Kentucky-born Gayheart first found fame doing ads as the "fresh-faced" Noxzema Girl, before turning to acting. She played Luke Perry's wife on Beverly Hills, 90210, had a role in the short-lived ABC series Wasteland and starred in such teen flicks as Urban Legend, Scream 2 and 1999's Jawbreaker.

She's due back in court March 27 for a progress report.

[michaelje]

Yet again, our justice system make me proud.

[Rodney King]

While several cars stopped to let him go, Gayheart allegedly swerved around the traffic and into a two-way left-turn lane, striking the boy . The child was taken to L.A.'s Children's Hospital where he died the next day.

She was not turning left. She was engaging in reckless and illegal behavior that resulted in a death. She should go to jail.

[kemathen7]

Hmmm ... I do believe that Ms. G was in the wrong here, but they are ignoring the fact that the boy who killed was also engaging in illegal and wreckless behavior. He was JAYWALKING. He stopped traffic, and not at a designated crosswalk (which is a hazard). Trust me - I am not defending Rebecca in any way. I think this is a good kindergarten lesson in "how to cross the street."

[spycatcher]

[ChemistCat]

I must see ten Type A drivers do this kind of thing every single day. I hope her public service tape can put a dent in this. I've seen cops totally ignore this kind of reckless driving, too. What do you do? I teach my kids to cross safely. And I drive as if my kids were in the road ahead.

[spycatcher]

[lelio]

In exchange for her plea, she was sentenced to three years' probation, a one-year suspension of her license, a $2,800 fine and a whopping 750 hours of community service. She was also ordered to make a public-service announcement.
What the? You run over someone and you get to make a commercial and its all good?

[Drew68]

This is a tragedy for everyone involved. A family lost their child and a young woman will go through her life with an incredibly painful burden to shoulder.

[AgThorn]

Man, never heard of this lady before ... but google sure shows a lot of pics on her ... Guess I am showing my age!!

[AgThorn]

And here's one that her PR agent probably doesn't peddle ...

last row, 4th pic ...

[lelio]

Police interviewed Gayheart at the scene of the accident, but did not arrest her because she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
So you hit and kill someone with your car and just cuz you're not drunk you're not arrested? Seems like this only happens to celebrities.

[DoughtyOne]

If this would have been me, I would have been visiting the gray-bar hotel for a few years. Gayheart should have also. She used little or no judgement and it cost a kid his life. Yes the damned kid should not have been j-walking. Unfortunately as an adult you have to watch out for little bastards like this. That's part of being an adult and driving resonsibly. That being said, I've probably been very fortunate not to have something like this happen to me when I a youthful driver. It's a real shame that it happened.

[101viking]

Chock another one up to the reckless So. California drivers. This happens all the time, the only reason it made the news is because a celebrity was involved. I live in L.A. and I have seen exactly the same thing happen on my way home from work. A line of cars is stopped, and no one knows why, but but prudence makes you stop too. then there's the impatient nut who races around the stopped cars without a clue as to why they are stopped. It's sad, L.A. has never been known as a pedestrian friendly city, heck it's not safe to cross the street at a signal with the light going your way here. Unfortunately as the demographics change, there are more and more pedestrians on the streets now, many of ignorant ofthe fact that most L.A. drivers have little or no experience dealing with people on foot in roadways.

[GussiedUp]

What the? You run over someone and you get to make a commercial and its all good?

Not quite - you have to be famous, rich and beautiful and most likely a liberal first....

[michaelje]

Im sure she couldnt care less. Those tears are the tears of a reall actress.

[willyone]

The kid was jaywalking. This may not make a difference to all you hang um and then give um a trial types but maybe she could not see why the other cars were stopped. It is real easy to think that a car has stopped for no reason or for a parking spot. I watched some jerk one day stop and block traffic to change clothes. People stopping for no apparent reason is common in LA. And the bikers who cut the traffic lanes on the freeways at seventy miles an hour are a real joy.

[willyone]

Oh? And what do you look like?

[Captainpaintball]

While Gayheart entered and exited without speaking to reporters, Braun held an impromptu press conference outside the courthouse, where he described how devastated his client was.

Almost as devestated as the child's family, right?

[is_is]

citing her negligence as the reason for their son's death.

EXCUSE ME!!!! who let the child into the street!!!??? Someone was negligent for allowing the child out of their sight.....who's more than 50% responsible here....the childs care taker at the time or a driver who was definitly not paying attention.

You know God never said everyone was guaranteed to have peachy lives and to never lose a child. We have become a country of people who take no personal responsibility for anything.....someone else is liable.......

[Frank_2001]

A poor minority driver would be 365 days in the county jail, and not a minute less. If you have enough money and fame, you can get away with just about anything, it seems...Pathetic.