NEWSMAKERS | Source: Gibson to plead in battery case

NEWSMAKERS

Source: Gibson to plead in battery case

LOS ANGELES

A person familiar with a pending criminal case against Mel Gibson says the Academy Award winner will be charged with misdemeanor battery over a fight last year with his then-girlfriend and has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The source with knowledge of the case is not authorized to speak publicly about the details and spoke Wednesday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The person says Gibson will be charged with battery over a January 2010 dispute with Oksana Grigorieva. Prosecutors have not yet announced a decision on whether to charge Grigorieva with extortion, which Gibson has been seeking.

The actor-director’s attorney, Blair Berk, said Gibson sought the plea agreement after prioritizing the interests of his children, including an infant daughter with Grigorieva.

Celebrity chef Fieri’s Lamborghini stolen

SAN FRANCISCO

Police say a thief using climbing gear rappelled into a San Francisco exotic car dealership and stole television celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s $200,000-plus Lamborghini sports car. The bright yellow Gallardo owned by the star of the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” was taken Tuesday.

Police investigators tell the San Francisco Chronicle and KPIX a thief climbed to the roof of the dealership then rappelled into the showroom. The garage-door lock was cut, and the Lamborghini was driven away. KPIX says the swashbuckling crook left behind a bag of mountaineering gear.

Ja Rule to begin prison term in June

NEW YORK

Ja Rule is set to go to prison in June in a New York City gun case. On Wednesday, a judge set a June 8 date for the platinum- selling rapper-actor’s sentencing. His lawyer says he’ll spend the intervening months finishing a new album, “Renaissance Project,” and taking care of tax matters.

The 35-year-old performer pleaded guilty in December to attempted weapon possession. He agreed to a two-year prison term.

Police say they found a loaded gun in a rear door of his luxury sports car when it was stopped for speeding after a July 2007 concert.

Ex-Alice in Chains bassist is found dead

SALT LAKE CITY

Police say officers have found former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr dead in a home near Salt Lake City’s downtown area.

Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Shawn Josephson says officers responded to the home Tuesday afternoon. He says details about the cause or circumstances of the 44-year-old’s death were not immediately available. It wasn’t immediately clear who owned the home or phoned police.

Starr was the original bassist for Alice in Chains, an iconic Seattle-based band that made its mark on the grunge scene of the early 1990s. He left the group in 1993. Josephson says Salt Lake City police arrested Starr last month on suspicion of possession of medications without a required prescription. Starr appeared on the third season of VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” in 2009.

Linked to Gadhafi, 50 Cent donates

NEW YORK

50 Cent is the latest artist to make a donation to charity after it was revealed he performed at an event linked to the clan of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. A statement released to The Associated Press on Wednesday said the rapper, who has his own G-Unity foundation, will be making a donation to UNICEF to help with that organization’s relief efforts during the turmoil in Libya.

50 Cent performed at a private event during the 2005 Venice Film Festival that was later linked to the Gadhafi clan. Gadhafi is battling rebels who are revolting against his rule, and faces an investigation for possible war crimes.

Last week, Beyonce, Usher, Mariah Carey and Nelly Furtado announced donations to charity in the wake of their participation in private concerts connected to the Gadhafis.

Charlie Sheen pal appears in court

FORT WAYNE, Ind.

One of actor Charlie Sheen’s so-called “goddesses” has appeared in an Indiana court in a drunk driving case. Rachel Oberlin was in Allen Superior Court in Fort Wayne on Tuesday. The 24-year-old performed in adult films under the name Bree Olson.

Her home address is in Fort Wayne but she’s been living at Sheen’s Hollywood Hills home in California along with model Natalie Kenly. A police report says Oberlin crashed a car into a light pole Feb. 3. Officers reported that she smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on her feet. She’s requested a jury trial on the drunken driving charge.

Lady Gaga, Target end deal to sell CDs

NEW YORK

Lady Gaga’s deal to sell a special edition of her upcoming album at Target is now out of range. A representative for the singer said Wednesday the two sides “came to a mutual decision to end their overall exclusive partnership a few weeks ago.”

Last month, it was announced that Target would be selling a deluxe edition of the album, to be released May 23, with bonus content. But gay advocates were concerned about the partnership, citing Target’s donations to a political candidate who was against gay marriage. The Advocate reported Tuesday that Gaga wasn’t comfortable with the deal and ended it.