Kiefer Sutherland Could Be Head(-butt)ed Back to Jail

[samanthajane13]

Natalie Finn and Ashley Fultz Natalie Finn And Ashley Fultz – Wed May 6, 10:15 pm ET

Los Angeles (E! Online) – Kiefer Sutherland may have mistaken himself for Jack Bauer, but to Los Angeles authorities, he's still Kiefer Sutherland, two-time DUI offender.

If the actor is slapped with an assault charge for allegedly head-butting designer Jack McCollough early Tuesday at a Met Costume Institute Gala afterparty in Manhattan, it could constitute a violation of his probation and possibly lead to more jail time.

After pleading no contest to driving under the influence on Oct. 9, 2007, Sutherland spent 48 days behind bars (he was already on the probationary hook for a previous DUI bust) and was sentenced to another 60 months' probation—which, obviously, is not up yet.

"We would have to decide whether or not file a probation violation and then he could potentially face the remainder of the time left on the count to which he entered his original plea," Los Angeles City Attorney's Office spokesman Frank Mateljan tells E! News.

"He could go back to jail, but that would be the maximum and a lot of it is case-specific."

New York police are investigating reports that Sutherland broke McCollough's nose by smacking the Proenza Schouler visionary with his own noggin. Media reports claim Sutherland lashed out in response to some slight directed at fellow guest Brooke Shields, but the actress' rep has denied that McCollough did anything untoward.

"There is an ongoing investigation into an assault," an NYPD detective confirmed to E! News today. "A white male got into a verbal altercation with another white male, 30, when he head-butted him, causing injury to his nose. The report was filed [Tuesday] evening. The incident happened at 2 a.m. Tuesday morning."

Well, according to the New York Daily News, Sutherland will be charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and be issued an appearance citation that leaves him free to travel until his arraignment.

"Kiefer is sorry it happened," a friend of the actor told the paper. "Absolutely. It's terribly regrettable."

A rep for Sutherland did not return requests for comment.

Because Sutherland caught a break by serving only 48 days for DUI and probation violation in 2007-08, the Emmy winner could be looking at more time, whether or not he's charged with assault in New York, according to one legal expert.

"[He] has done a 48-day sentence, so that leaves 10 and a half months he could be sentenced to if he violated probation," explains Santa Monica attorney Alec Rose, who is not involved in the Sutherland matter.

"The city attorney only has to prove a probation violation by the preponderance of the evidence—basically they have to prove that it is more likely true than not."

(Originally published May 6, 2009, at 3:39 p.m. PT)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/2009..._top_eo/122525


DUMB-ASS!!!

[samanthajane13]

Sutherland charged in head-butt claim
By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press Writer Colleen Long, Associated Press Writer – 4 mins ago

NEW YORK – Kiefer Sutherland has been charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly head-butting a fashion designer at a Manhattan nightclub.

The star of Fox television's "24" reported to a lower Manhattan police station in a Lincoln Town Car alongside his lawyers Thursday, but he did not speak to reporters.

Sutherland, 42, was interviewed by investigators, given a ticket, ordered to appear in court June 22 and released on his own recognizance. The minor charge is akin to a speeding ticket.

But the case could create another major legal hassle for Sutherland, who served 48 days in jail on a drunken-driving charge in California last year.

The designer, Jack McCollough of the high-end Proenza Schouler fashion house, claims Sutherland attacked him after an argument, leaving him with a cut on his face. The incident happened about 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Detectives were planning to question actress Brooke Shields as a witness because she was at the trendy SoHo nightspot SubMercer, in the basement of the Mercer Hotel, where the altercation took place. Drinks at the ultra-hip club cost around $15.

No decision has been made on whether the charge will affect Sutherland's probation for a drunken-driving conviction in Los Angeles, said Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney.

Sutherland pleaded no contest to driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. He was sentenced to 30 days, in addition to 18 days for violating probation in a 2004 drunken-driving arrest.

Representatives for Sutherland, Shields and McCollough did not return several calls seeking comment.

Sutherland, who plays dashing federal counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer on "24," won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for best actor, and has been nominated multiple times for his work on the wildly popular show. His gritty portrayal of the counterterrorism agent has made Bauer an iconic character.

The current season — the show's seventh — finds Bauer scrambling through Washington to save the world from its latest bad day. Sutherland also has signed on for an eighth season. The show airs on Mondays.

___

Associated Press Writer Anthony McCartney contributed to this report from Los Angeles.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090508/...ple_sutherland

[samanthajane13]

Shields upset by media glare in Sutherland case
By ALICIA QUARLES, Associated Press Writer Alicia Quarles, Associated Press Writer – 32 mins ago

NEW YORK – Brooke Shields says she's frightened and frustrated by the media storm the Kiefer Sutherland arrest has dumped on her doorstep — and really doesn't understand why she's being brought into the situation at all.

Sutherland was charged last week with head-butting designer Jack McCollough at a Manhattan nightclub. Shields was there, and reports have said the incident was over her. Police have said they want to question Shields.

At an event Thursday night to promote The Chain of Confidence, an organization that sponsors girls and promotes positive attitudes in women, Shields expressed frustration that she has been linked to the case.

"I am always interested in the fact that I can be minding my own business. I can be in London doing a play and things could happen. It is inexplicable to me," she said.

"I can't make any comment legally because of my lawyers and everything like that," she continued. "I am always amazed when I am involved in something like The Chain of Confidence, the obsession with an issue like this versus really what we are talking about. It is not as sexy maybe, but it is so much more important. I am always amazed by the fact. I just shake my head."

Shields, 42, said she is also upset the paparazzi are monitoring her since the case developed.

"It is frightening and shocking the access people have to everybody else. They are camped outside of my house," she said. "I am shocked and I feel like I have already been through so much that I am fortified in longevity. To me I am not going anywhere. If it hasn't thrown me yet, it is not going to throw me now."

___

On the Net:

http://www.chainofconfidence.com/


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090515/...brooke_shields

[samanthajane13]

Kiefer Sutherland, designer resolve issues
By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press Writer Colleen Long, Associated Press Writer – 41 mins ago

NEW YORK – Kiefer Sutherland and the fashion designer he's accused of head-butting at a Manhattan night club said Friday they resolved their differences, clearing the way for the charges to be dropped. Sutherland and Jack McCollough issued a brief joint statement Friday to The Associated Press through Sutherland's attorney.

"I am sorry about what happened that night and sincerely regret that Mr. McCollough was injured," Sutherland said in the statement.

The star of Fox television's "24" was charged May 7 with third-degree assault in the alleged incident two weeks ago at a nightclub at the Mercer Hotel in the trendy SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. The minor charge is comparable to a speeding ticket.

A spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney's office declined to comment on whether the charges would be dismissed.

But now that Sutherland and McCollough say they have resolved their differences, a prosecutor may go before a judge and ask that the case be dropped. That could happen at Sutherland's next scheduled court appearance on June 22.

"I appreciate Mr. Sutherland's statement and wish him well," McCollough said in the statement.

McCollough, of the high-end Proenza Schouler fashion house, said Sutherland head-butted him and broke his nose after an argument. The two were out following the gala at the Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a fancy affair studded with celebrities.

The story spurred a media frenzy as a swarm of reporters gathered outside the 1st Precinct in Manhattan to watch as Sutherland arrived for questioning and was charged. Photographers also shadowed Sutherland and McCollough while rumors swirled about the nature of their altercation and what role, if any, actress Brooke Shields might have played.

Sutherland, who has won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his portrayal of dashing federal counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer on "24," pleaded no contest in October 2007 to driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

He served 30 days in jail, in addition to 18 days for violating probation in a 2004 drunken-driving arrest.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090522/...ple_sutherland

[samanthajane13]

Kiefer Sutherland Off the Hook for Head-Butt
Natalie Finn Natalie Finn – 1 hr 49 mins ago

Los Angeles (E! Online) – What Kiefer Sutherland did was pretty dumb, but not criminal.

As expected, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office has opted not to prosecute the actor for misdemeanor assault in connection with his fight with designer Jack McCollough in May.

The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office won't be going after Sutherland for probation violation on his 2007 DUI, either, after conducting its own investigation into his questionable conduct.

New York police threw the book at him, but the case had been going nowhere since the 24 star and McCollough issued a joint "all is well" statement, not long after Sutherland's head met McCollough's nose in one of the dirtiest cheap shots since Johnny swept the leg in The Karate Kid.

"Do you think that you're Jack Bauer?" Late Night host Jimmy Fallon asked Sutherland during his May 21 appearance on the show.

"Absolutely not, absolutely not," the Emmy winner said. "I learned that really clearly the first season.

"We can joke about it, I guess," Sutherland added, "but it's something I really regret having happened."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/eonline/2009..._top_eo/135226