Mel Gibson Pleads 'No Contest' To Battery Charge
March 12 2011, Published 4:00 a.m. ET
After a prolonged investigation and public scandal, Mel Gibson entered a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from his fight with Oksana Grigorieva on January 6, 2010.
The actor received a sentence of three years probation and was ordered to attend 52 weeks of counseling in a domestic violence program. The judge also said he would continue psychological “treatment” he is already under with his doctor.
Gibson was also hit with a protective order to stay away from Grigorieva.
The most dramatic moment in a day that was pre-scripted came when the judge asked, “Mel Gibson…how do you now plead?”
Watch Mel Gibson live in court on Breaking Celebrity News.
Mel answered: “No contest, pursuant to People v. West.” That plea does not constitute an express admission of guilt but only a consent to be punished as if guilty.
One revelation that surprised some was that Gibson has been in a domestic violence counseling program since January, although he will have to start his court-ordered 52 weeks fresh from today. He was ordered to do 16 hours of community service and pay a small fine. He will perform the community service with a group whose board of directors includes his wife Robyn.
Oksana was not in the courtroom and waived her right to appear.
EXCLUSIVE FIRST PHOTOS: The Injury To Oksana's Teeth
“I have a good grasp of everything my attorney has discussed with me,” Gibson said at one point in the proceedings, referencing attorney Blair Berk, who fought hard to the very end and told the court, “He’s entering this plea because it was in the best interest of his children.”
"One of the reasons the case reached a disposition was for the benefit of the victim and the minor witness who would have had to testify in this case," the District Attorney said.
Breaking Celebrity News asked Deputy District Attorney Simone Shaye who the minor witness was and although she would not reveal who, it is Oksana's 13-year-old son,