Baseball legend Lenny Dykstra has been sentenced to three years in California state prison in his grand theft auto case.
The former New York Mets outfielder had asked the judge to allow him to change his plea last week -- from "no contest" to "not guilty" -- but the judge refused to allow it today.
Lenny entered the "no contest" plea back in October as part of a plea deal -- copping to three counts of felony grand theft auto and one count of submitting false statements to a financial institution. 21 other charges against him were dismissed.
Lenny wanted to change his "no contest" plea because he felt it was "not knowing and intelligent" -- meaning Lenny wasn't provided with all the available information in the case before he made his plea decision.
Lenny was accused of leasing luxury cars from an L.A. dealership with fraudulent paperwork. Drug charges were also filed in the case.
But Lenny won't actually serve a day in prison -- due to overcrowding, he'll begin serving his sentence in jail ... and will likely be released long before the 3-year mark.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Lenny Dykstra Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison | TMZ.com
Friday, March 30, 2012
Chris Reid & Harvey -- BAD Music and Metaphors | TMZ.com
Chris Reid from Kid 'n Play tried REALLY hard to crack a joke about Harvey's singing -- which somehow opened the door for Harvey to deliver a bizarre metaphor involving ... swim trunks?
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Abercrombie & Fitch -- The Situation Can't Sue Us ... We're ALLOWED to Mock Him | TMZ.com
Abercrombie & Fitch is trying to end their ongoing feud with The Situation once and for all -- asking a judge to dimiss the "Jersey Shore" star's lawsuit against the clothing company ... on grounds dude can't take a joke.
The war between Sitch and A&F began back in August -- when A&F publicly offered to pay The Situation NOT to wear its clothing. A month later, Sitch sued the company, claiming it ripped off his "GTL" and "Situation" trademarks on a line of guido-mocking t-shirts (below).
But now, A&F is trying to put an end to the back-and-forth -- claiming Sitch had no right to sue them in the first place ... because he doesn't technically own the trademarks in question ... he only applied for them.
What's more -- A&F claims Situation's application for "Gym Tan Laundry" has actually been suspended ... because MTV already owns "Gym Tanning Laundry," and the US Patent & Trademark Office thinks they're too similar.
But trademarks aside -- A&F insists its shirts are still protected under a law that allows parody as part of free speech ... in other words, the shirts were obviously a harmless joke ... albeit at the Situation's expense.
Bottom line, A&F is hoping to avoid further litigation by citing an often incontrovertible fact ... The Situation is full of crap. So far, no word back from Sitch's camp.
'Bachelor' Ben Flajnik & Courtney Robertson Hug It Out in Public | TMZ.com
Still trying to convince the world they are really in love, "Bachelor" Ben Flajnik and his chosen alleged soon-to-be bride Courtney Robertson actually hugged and kissed at the airport in San Francisco this weekend.
The reality TV dating competition show couple admitted they broke up after taping the finale but have since gotten back together and are engaged ... for reals ... right?
Tony Hawk Suffers 'Sheared Pelvis' in Skate Crash | TMZ.com
Tony Hawk came to a sudden, hip-smashing halt during a half-pipe demonstration this weekend -- when a skate trick went wrong ... resulting in a "sheared pelvis and a severe hematoma."
It all went down -- hard -- during a skate demonstration at the Action Sports Weekend event at Downtown Disney's Main Plaza in Anaheim, CA -- where Tony attempted to land a 540 ... and failed.
Tony was forced to roll on over to the UC Irvine Trauma Center, where according to Tony's blog, he was treated for a sheared pelvis and hematoma.
Tony has since Tweeted, "I will no longer take walking for granted."
Mel Gibson Accused of Pastry Meltdown! | TMZ.com
Mel Gibson allegedly tried to run over a man outside a Costa Rican bakery ... but at least one eyewitness tells TMZ the man's a liar.
Quick backstory -- Nader Sharif sued Mel, claiming the actor swindled him out of $200,000 by cajoling him into investing in a recyclable rubber company.
Sharif filed a lawsuit in June, but he's filing new documents today, in which he claims Mel tried to mow him down in July, after the two ran into each other at a Costa Rican bakery.
Sharif says Mel got violent, calling him "vile and offensive names" and threatening him with physical harm if he didn't skip town.
Sharif alleges Mel stormed out of the bakery and got into his car. Sharif says he left the premises moments later, and Mel "accelerated the car to a high rate of speed" and drove the car directly at him while multitasking by giving him the finger! Sharif says he jumped out of the way... narrowly escaping his fate as Costa Rican roadkill.
But a witness tells TMZ it's all hogwash. He says Mel was trying to enjoy a "sweet pastry" and a cup of coffee, when Sharif walked in the bakery and tried to confront him. He claims Mel asked Sharif to leave, to no avail. The witness says Mel left ... Sharif followed. The witness says at no time did Mel drive toward Sharif. And he says there are at least 7 other witnesses who will tell the same story.
If only Oksana was there to record the incident.
Madonna Stalker -- Creepy Storage Locker REVEALED | TMZ.com
A storage locker belonging to the guy who once served a 10-year sentence for stalking Madonna has just been opened up ... and ... it's weird.
The locker belonged to Robert Dewey Hoskins (who also threatened Halle Berry) -- and the contents were auctioned off earlier this month because he failed to pay the bill.
Among the gems ... a TON of Madonna memorabilia (including CDs and photos) ... as well as condoms, women's jewelry, box cutters, scissors, a bible and a super creepy mask. Like we said ... weird.
The buyer of the locker (who paid $1,900 for it) had no idea Hoskins was renting the unit before the auction ... but was able to ID the stalker through paperwork discovered in the locker, as well as a few prescription bottles left behind.
We're told the buyer informed Applied Facts, a private investigation company, which then contacted the LAPD ... which has yet to investigate the locker's contents.
Celebrity Scramble -- Guess Who | TMZ.com
Joe Jackson -- 83-Year-Old Hits Vegas Club ... at 2 PM | TMZ.com
Michael Jackson's father was chillin' at Lavo Champagne Brunch at the Palazzo Hotel ... a full-on nightclub-style party scene ... that serves almond crusted French toast.
Sources at the club tell TMZ ... JJ arrived with a male friend ... and wasn't boozing, only drinking water.
But he WAS pimpin' it ... hangin' out at a table with a group of hot chicks. At one point, he handed his camera to someone and said, "I want a picture with the girls."
After the pic, the girls described JJ as a "sweet old man."
What happens in Vegas ... is weird sometimes.
The Situation Sued for $1 Mil After 86ing Manager | TMZ.com
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino's ex manager just filed a $1 million lawsuit against him ... alleging he was wrongfully dumped after taking him from "relative obscurity" to stardom.
The Manager's Co., Gotham NYC Entertainment, filed the suit today ... claiming the Situation dumped Gotham back in May for what he deemed a "lack of performance."
Gotham denies any poor performance -- but even if there was ... the lawsuit claims Sitch was contractually required to give Gotham 30 days notice ... and a chance to correct any issues.
Gotham claims it never got that opportunity -- and therefore Sorrentino is in breach of his contract.
In the suit, Gotham says it's managed Situation since the 2009 premiere of "Jersey Shore" -- and it not only discovered Sitch, but transformed "his career from relative obscurity to become an international celebrity."
Gotham is suing for damages in excess of $1 million.
