Free Republic

In the latest twist to former U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's tale of greed and corruption, celebrity defense attorney Mark Geragos has joined the legal team of one of the former congressman's alleged conspirators in a massive bribery scam. Geragos, whose former clients include pop star Michael Jackson, former first brother Roger Clinton and former Congressman Gary Condit, said Wednesday that he recently began representing Poway businessman Brent Wilkes. Court documents allege that Cunningham's conspirators, one of whom is believed to be Wilkes, lavished the congressman with cash, loans and gifts in recent years. In March, the eight-term former congressman...

Anthony Pellicano, the high-profile private investigator whose clients included some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, was charged today with conspiracy and making threats against a Los Angeles Times reporter. Anita Busch was researching a story in 2002 about the relationship between actor Steven Seagal and a reputed Mafia figure when someone fired a bullet through the windshield of her unoccupied car. Left on top of the vehicle was a dead fish with a rose in its mouth and a sign reading: "Stop." The charges today were filed by Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley after a lengthy investigation...

The mother of murder victim Laci Peterson is writing a book about her experiences. Sharon Rocha is expected to provide a revealing look at the celebrated Laci Peterson murder case in her book, “For Laci.” The book has been listed on the website of Crown Publishing, a division of Random House. Peterson’s stepfather, Ron Grantski, told the Modesto Bee that he would be helping Rocha write the book. “A lot of truths haven't been told, and I kind of think they should be,” Grantski said. "Everyone has written little bits and pieces. This story is going to be a good...

<p>SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Child molestation charges will be filed against pop superstar Michael Jackson (search) at Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria, Calif., on Thursday at 1 p.m. PST (4 p.m. EST), District Attorney Thomas Sneddon (search) announced Wednesday.</p>

MICHELLE HOLDEN ADMITS SEX WITH MINOR, IS SPARED PRISON TERM May 7, 1999 Three days after her husband stepped down as the mayor of Pasadena, Michelle E. Holden tearfully halted what would have been a sordid trial, pleading no contest to a felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor - the couple's 15-year-old male babysitter. (snip) Comforted by her lawyer, Mark J. Geragos, Holden sobbed and dabbed at her eyes in the nearly empty Pasadena courtroom as she entered her plea. It came even as the jury was being selected. Ironically, the charge she acknowledged - sexual intercourse...

<p>Defense attorney Mark Geragos walks towards Stanislaus County Courthouse on August 14.</p> <p>Scott Peterson’s preliminary hearing will be open to the public, Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Al Girolami ruled this morning. Peterson, 30, is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Laci, 27, and the couple’s unborn son, Conner. He has pleaded not guilty; a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to hold him for trial is set Sept. 9.</p>

MODESTO, Calif. (Court TV) — Scott Peterson's lawyer and the attorney for his former mistress traded insults inside and outside a court hearing Thursday in a verbal brawl that included references to "Saturday Night Live" skits, a gazelle, the county fair and at least one declaration of war, but practically nothing about the crime which could land the accused double-murderer on death row. The face-off between media-savvy lawyers Mark Geragos and Gloria Allred, which the participants variously described as "a battle," "a game" and a buffalo hunt, ended with Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Al Girolami rejecting Geragos' charge that...

<p>BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Winona Ryder was observed three times by security at stores in New York and Beverly Hills and videotaped twice in suspected shoplifting incidents before her arrest at Saks Fifth Avenue, according to secret court transcripts released Friday.</p>

BEVERLY HILLS (Reuters) - The jury charged with deciding whether actress Winona Ryder was guilty of shoplifting in Beverly Hills ended its first day of deliberations on Tuesday without reaching a verdict. The six-man, six-woman jury -- several of whom work in the entertainment industry, including an ex-studio head -- spent the day deliberating after an extraordinary six-day trial which featured Ryder's videotaped trip to the posh Saks Fifth Avenue store last December but never heard from the actress, herself. Ryder, 31, arrived early at the Beverly Hills court on Tuesday dressed in dark pants and looking pale and tense....