Gibson stalker sentenced

Gibson stalker sentenced
LOS ANGELES -- An Idaho drifter who claimed he was on a mission from God to pray with actor-director Mel Gibson was convicted of felony stalking Friday. Jurors deliberated for less than three hours before finding Zack Sinclair guilty. Sinclair, 34, faces up to 16 months in prison. Sinclair, a fan of Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," was arrested in September after repeatedly going to the gate of the actor-director's Malibu estate and asking Gibson to pray with him. Gibson also testified Thursday that he was attending church services in September when he got up briefly and returned to find Sinclair sitting in his seat. Sinclair moved within a few inches of his face, Gibson said, telling him, "Hi, I'm here to pray with you." The actor noted that Sinclair "wasn't scary or overtly threatening," but still feared for his family's safety.
Cher sues for royalties
LOS ANGELES -- Singer and actress Cher is suing Warner/Chappell Music Inc. for breach of contract on claims that it failed to pay royalties estimated at more than $250,000. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, alleges that the music publisher has not paid song and performance royalties for the last four years. The other plaintiffs include Chastity Bono, the daughter of Cher and her late husband Sonny Bono, and Christy Bono, Bono's daughter from his first marriage. A phone call to Edward Adler, spokesman for Time Warner Inc., which owners Warner/Chappell, seeking comment was not immediately returned early Friday. Singing duo Cher and Sonny Bono had reached written agreements in 1965 and 1966 for recording services with York Records and Atlantic Recording Corporation that required them to pay royalties and provide an accounting of the payments, the suit said. Warner/Chappell, which acquired Atlantic, breached those contracts, the suit said.
Clark making progress
MALIBU, Calif. -- Three months after a stroke, Dick Clark continues to recuperate at his beachfront home and doctors are pleased with his progress, Clark's publicist said. "He is continuing rehabilitation. He is walking and talking, not to the extent that we would like to see it, but he's progressing. The doctors are happy with his progress," Paul Shefrin said Thursday. Clark, 75, suffered a stroke Dec. 6 and was hospitalized for more than seven weeks at a Burbank hospital, forcing him to cancel as host of the "New Year's Rockin' Eve" TV show from New York's Times Square. "Doctors are telling him he will be there for the countdown this year. He expects to be there," Shefrin said. "Is Dick 100 percent? No." Clark's spokesman was asked about a supermarket tabloid cover story this week claiming Clark was a demoralized recluse who was ready to die.
Notable deaths
MACES SPRINGS, Va. -- Joe Carter, a member of the famous Carter Family of country music, died Wednesday of cancer, his niece said. He was 78. Carter was a cornerstone of the preservation of old-time mountain music and helped build the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Va., which presented shows of country and bluegrass music every weekend. The niece who announced Carter's death, Rita Forrester, is a Fold executive. Carter was 5 months old when he traveled with his parents, A.P. and Sara Carter, from Maces Springs to Bristol in 1927 for a recording session that has been called "the big bang of country music." It launched the careers of A.P., Sara and her cousin, Maybelle Carter, as the Carter Family trio. Maybelle Carter's daughter was June Carter Cash. Musician Martin Denny, known for creating a unique genre of pop music that enjoyed a renewed popularity with lounge music and tiki culture, died Wednesday, his daughter said. He was 93. Denny created a sound that he described as a fusion of Asian, South Pacific, American jazz, Latin American and classical.
Today's birthdays
Actor James B. Sikking is 71. Actor Dean Stockwell is 69. Actor Fred Williamson is 67. Singer Eddy Grant is 57. Violinist Eugene Fodor is 55. Rock musician Alan Clark (Dire Straits) is 53. Actress-comedian Marsha Warfield is 51. Magician Penn Jillette is 50. Pop singer Teena Marie is 49. Rock singer Craig Reid is 43. Rock singer Charlie Reid is 43. Rock musician John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 35. Actor Kevin Connolly is 31. Actress Jolene Blalock ("Enterprise") is 30. Model Niki Taylor is 30. Actress Eva Mendes is 27. Actor Jake Lloyd is 16.