CSI star Gary Dourdan was arrested early Monday in Palm Springs, Calif., for alleged drug possession, according to local police.

Shortly after 5 a.m., a patrol officer spotted Dourdan parked on the wrong side of the street and he appeared to be sleeping, the Palm Springs Police Department said in a statement.

Dourdan was found in possession of suspected cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and prescription pills, the statement added.

The officer described Dourdan, 41, as “disoriented” and possibly under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Over the weekend, Dourdan had attended the Coachella Music Festival, which took place in nearby Indio, Calif.

After five hours in custody, the actor posted $5,000 bail and was released. A rep for the actor wasn’t immediately available for comment.

His arraignment is set for May 28.

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Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday.

The Hollywood actor - who owed $2.8 million in unreturned tax bills from 1999 to 2001 - was condemned by Judge William Terrell Hodges for exhibiting a “history of contempt over a period of time” for US tax laws.

Snipes, 45, apologised for his “costly mistakes” and blamed his failure to pay on his lack of education.

Speaking at the court in Ocala, Florida, Snipes said: “I am an idealistic, naive, passionate, truth-seeking, spiritually motivated artist, unschooled in the science of law and finance.

“I am well-intentioned, but miseducated”.

During the hearing, Snipes’ lawyers offered letters from the star’s family members and friends - including Hollywood actors Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson - speaking about his good character.

They had recommended Snipes be given home detention because he had no previous criminal record.

Mischa Barton has been charged with driving under the influence and possession of marijuana, stemming from her arrest in December, police announced Tuesday.

The former star of The O.C. was also charged with driving without a valid license. Her arraignment on the misdemeanor charges is set for Thursday in Beverly Hills Superior Court.

Barton, 22, was arrested for investigation of DUI in West Hollywood on Dec. 27 after her vehicle was seen straddling two lanes of traffic and she failed to signal when making a turn, police have said.
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TMZ has confirmed with Miami police that O.J. Simpson’s girlfriend, Christy Prody, suffered bruises and head injuries on Monday — but it was because of a fall — and not at the hand of the Juice.

The National Enquirer reported that O.J. was being investigated after Prody was taken to a Miami hospital with head trauma and bruising.

But cops tell TMZ that her injuries are “consistent” with a fall she took at a gas station, that they don’t consider this a criminal case, and that O.J. was never a suspect.

O.J. is due in Las Vegas for his robbery case in April.

Britney Spears’ visitation rights to her children remain suspended, ruled Commissioner Scott Gordon at LA’s Superior Court today. The next hearing is scheduled for February 19; the trial is set for April 9.

“The word victory is not something that Mr. Federline or his counsel would ascribe to the results of the court,” Kevin Federline’s attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told reporters outside the courthouse. “There is no joyous feeling. This is a grave situation for everybody. And while we believe Mr. Federline is pleased that the court did make an order that we feel is appropriate, there is no joy in it for him.”

An insider tells In Touch that “while Kaplan showed sincere feelings for Britney, you could tell he was happy he won in court.” Testifying today were Kevin, two LAPD officers, Britney’s court-appointed monitor, her parenting coach and Kevin’s bodyguard.
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The lawyer representing Britney Spears in her child custody battle has dramatically asked to quit due to a “communication breakdown” between himself and the troubled pop princess.

Sorrel Trope of family law firm Trope and Trope has worked for Spears since September in her battle against ex-husband Kevin Federline for the custody of their two sons.

However, relations between the two parties have frayed, with Trope’s firm filing papers yesterday withdrawing themselves from Spears’ case, according to TMZ.com.

A representative for the legal team explains: “There has been a breakdown in communications between (Spears) and Trope and Trope making further representation of her interests impossible.”

It still remained unclear whether Spears had a new attorney lined up.

What is certain, however, is that Trope has a duty to remain with Spears for the time being.

He tells People.com: “A lawyer cannot simply withdraw from a case. We will ask the court to relieve us, which will be heard (in court) within a month’s time.”

The next hearing for Spears and Kevin Federline is set for February 19.

Trope was Spears’ third lawyer in her ongoing custody battle with her ex-husband. Her first attorney, Laura Wasser, resigned from her case in September shortly after Spears’ divorce from Federline was finalised.

Spears then hired the firm Freid & Goldsman, but fired them within days before bringing Trope on board.
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The son of professional wrestler and film star Hulk Hogan has turned himself in on charges stemming from a street-racing crash that critically injured a passenger in his car, Florida police said.

Nick Bollea, 17, was arrested on charges of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury, Clearwater police spokeswoman Elizabeth Daly-Watts said.

He arrived at the Pinellas County Jail handcuffed and accompanied by two police officers, The Tampa Tribune reported.

“Because Nick is still a juvenile and has no prior criminal record, we are disappointed that he is being charged as an adult offender. However, we are confident that the evidence will demonstrate that this was an accident,” family spokesman Adam Handelsman said in a written statement.

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A Los Angeles County judge has ordered Britney Spears to be booked for suspicion of hit-and-run before a scheduled Oct. 25 court appearance, according to TMZ.com.

According to NBC News, Spears’ attorney will have to show proof of the booking at the Oct. 25 hearing. Spears does not need to be present for this arraignment.

Spears was charged with one count of hit-and-run and one count of driving with a suspended license on Sept. 21. Both are misdemeanor charges, each of which carries a maximum six-month jail sentence.

The charges stem from an August incident in which Spears hit a parked car. Cameramen from several celebrity Web sites shot video of Spears hitting the car and then leaving the scene without leaving a note or making an attempt to contact the driver. Spears’ lawyer, Michael Flanagan, confirmed to Access Hollywood they are trying to “work out something” with Kim Rifkin, the owner of the other vehicle.

Meanwhile, the custody hearing for Spears and ex-husband Kevin Federline is still set for Oct. 26. She has been ordered to be present for this court date.

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Nicole Richie appeared in court today to face charges for her wrong-way DUI bust in December — her second DUI conviction in 4 years. A court commissioner sentenced Richie, represented by lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley, to serve four days in the City or County Jail (her choice!) — she got credit for a fifth day, for the six hours she served after being busted.

Richie was also fined $2,048, was ordered back to school for 21 days to an alcohol education course and on three years probation.

Richie must report to serve her time by September 28.

The commissioner issued Richie a stern warning, telling her if she she drove drunk again and she actually killed someone she could be charged with murder — not manslaughter. That’s because after her first DUI, Richie agreed that if she drove under the influence and killed someone, she’d be nailed for murder.

The 25-year-old is expected to give birth sometime in January.

A source close to Richie said at today’s sentencing she was “stoic and serious, but not emotional.”

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