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celebrity Nude Photos Released | Celebrity News

The Latest Nude Photo Leak Threatens to Expose More Celebs

Amanda Seyfried, Amber Heard, Analeigh Tipton, Ariana Grande, Celebrity News, Criminal Law, Domestic Violence, Featured, Gabrielle Union, Hot, Jennifer Lawrence, Kaley Cuoco, Kate Upton, Kim Kardashian, Kirsten Dunst, Miley Cyrus, Mischa Barton, Restraining Order, Rosario Dawson, Sex Crimes, Suki Waterhouse

Allegedly hacked and stolen nude photos of Miley Cyrus, Suki Waterhouse and Rosario Dawson just popped up on a website called Celebrity Jihad, and it’s anyone’s guess which celebs will be the next victims.

The women joined a dubious yet ever growing club — last month nude photos of actresses Amanda Seyfried and Analeigh Tipton, and scantily clad pics of Emma Watson, were posted to the same site.

Seyfried, who recently gave birth to her first child, got Celebrity Jihad to take down the photos after threatening legal action, while Analeigh Tipton teamed up with the police to try to track down the person or people who hacked her photos. Emma Watson also pursued legal action, though it should be noted that her leaked pics were not nude and were reportedly from a wardrobe fitting. As this situation continues to develop, it’s unclear if more celebs will be targeted and whether anyone will be brought to justice.

Meanwhile, Mischa Barton has been facing her own nude controversy which PROOF has been covering. Jon Zacharias, an ex-boyfriend of Barton, allegedly recorded her in intimate moments positions without her knowledge and consent and is shopping a sex tape. Allegedly offers have been made for $500,000. Another ex boyfriend, Adam Shaw, is also involved in the matter in that he has copies of the images though he alleges he tried to stop Zacharias from releasing them. A California court shut all of that down and granted Barton a restraining order against both men, prohibiting them from selling the video and anyone from seeking to purchase the footage. For more information on this incident, click here.

Ultimately, when it comes to celebs who’ve had private photos and videos leaked, it’s almost easier to count who HASN’T had their personal images hacked and displayed for the world to see. With technology today and the skills (and total lack of conscience) on behalf of hackers, celebs need to work harder than ever to protect their privacy. Fact is, if nude photo of a star exists there is a good chance it will go public, despite their lack of consent.

Perhaps the biggest celeb nude photo dump to date was the infamous “The Fappening” incident in 2014, in which hackers posted stolen nude pics on the website 4chan of celebs including Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Amber Heard, Ariana Grande, Gabrielle Union, Kim Kardashian, Kirsten Dunst and Kaley Cuoco, among many others.

Lawrence spoke out passionately about the breach, saying,” “It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime. It is a sexual violation. It’s disgusting.” She added, “The law needs to be changed, and we need to change. That’s why these Web sites are responsible.”

Gabrielle Union also didn’t take the violation lightly, reportedly going to the FBI to look for justice. It looks like she and the other victims got it — hackers Ryan Collins, Edward Majerczyk and Andrew Helton were convicted in 2016 of crimes related to the photo thefts.

There are laws that allow celebrities (and regular folks too) to pursue both civil and and criminal penalties against those who film them without consent and release those images into the public domain. The cases are not easy though and it is often difficult to identify who obtained the images and who released them. In what is referred to as revenge porn (more akin to Mischa Barton’s situation) it is sometimes easier to identify the wrongdoer and bring that person or entity to justice but even then the cases are not simple.

We at PROOF agree with Jennifer Lawrence that it is a sexual violation and laws do need to change to protect innocent victims. Yes, innocent. Just because someone who is a celebrity does not mean others can invade the most private parts of her life and reveal them to the outside world without permission. We also applaud the position Mischa Barton’s lawyers took when they argued that attempts by her ex boyfriend was an act of domestic violence.

The more celebs that speak up about these violations and pursue the offenders the greater chance we have in stopping this heinous behavior. Will it go away forever? No. There will always be people who get a thrill from violating the rights of others but if laws continue to be written, penalties enforced and investigation stepped up then we have a chance of reducing it–and that is worth something.

At PROOF there’s nothing we like to do more than to share celebrity news–not malicious gossip. Just real, true celebrity news. Browse the site and see what interests you!

Celebrity Criminal Cases | Celebrity News | Proof With Jill Stanley

Celebrity Criminal Cases That Have Us Talking in 2017

Assault, Bill Cosby, Celeb News, Celebrities, Celebrity Lawsuits, Celebrity News, Criminal Law, Custody, Divorce, Shia LaBeouf, TJ Miller

Celebrity news is fun to follow, but nothing ensnares our attention quite like a star who is mixed up with the justice system. While many celebs find themselves involved with the court system due to divorce or contract disputes, it’s the star that has run-ins with the criminal law system that really gets us talking.

From physical assault to sexual assault and DUIs, count on PROOF to cover the most shocking celebrity criminal cases. Below though you will find a handful of celeb criminal cases that are keeping our attention in 2017.

Shia LaBeouf

Surprise, surprise! Shia’s in trouble — again!

The always controversial former Disney star was charged with misdemeanor assault and a harassment violation after getting in a fight. LaBeouf got into a scuffle with the 25-year-old man in front of the Museum of the Moving Image in the Big Apple where Shia was holding his anti-Trump, He Will Not Divide Us protest. Authorities allege that LaBeouf pulled on the man’s scarf and in doing so scratched the man’s face. While this may be his first arrest of 2017 – we have a feeling he’ll be making more headlines in celebrity news, especially because the 30-year-old has said he’s planning to continue the protest art exhibit for the next four years. That’s right, FOUR YEARS! The exhibit was originally slated to run continuously outside the Museum of the Moving Image, but due to the controversy, it got shut down on February 10, 2017. No fear though because just about a week later, LaBeouf and his collaborators, Nastja Säde Rönkkö and Luke Turner, announced that the exhibit was relocating to the El Rey Theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Sadly though, once again the protest has been shut down. Apparently gunshots were heard in and around it. At the time of this writing, Labeouf tweeted the following: We have taken the stream down after shots were reported in the area. The safety of everybody participating in our project is paramount. It’s a shame that this keep happening, that’s there’s violence in the face of a seeker of free speech, especially with all that’s going in with this Administration. Perhaps this “participatory performance artwork” will reopen and any acts of violence will cease. As for LaBeouf, let’s hope he will play nice and stay out of celebrity news headlines.

T.J. Miller

T.J. Miller is one of Hollywood’s newest funny guys, but certainly no one was laughing when Uber driver, Wilson Deon Thomas III, said that the “Silicon Valley” actor slapped him after getting in a dispute about Donald Trump. Talk about some celebrity news drama!

Los Angeles Police Department Officer, Jenner Houser, said that authorities responded to a report of battery at the 6900 block of Camrose Drive in the Hollywood Hills at 1AM. Miller was charged with that battery. He was issued a citation and was quickly released from custody with a promise to appear in court on the matter at a later date. Despite his quick release, Miller may have to deal with more than just a slap on the wrist for his slap across the face. The driver now claims he suffered violent whiplash from the incident after slamming on the brakes while driving and is now suing T.J. for medical expenses and other damages.

Miller’s attorney has called the lawsuit a “pure money grab” and said Thomas is prone to filing “lawsuits to extort people.” I’m not sure what that is based on as PROOF has searched LA County court records and found only this case with Wilson Deon Thomas as a plaintiff. We look forward to seeing the evidence T.J.’s lawyer has to support his statement.

Though not overly serious, this is one celebrity news tale we are interested in for both civil and criminal ramifications

Bill Cosby

Anyone spending time on PROOF knows we just can’t stop talking about the fallen funnyman. And, we’re not the only one. Seems like no story since O.J. has grabbed the celebrity news world’s attention than that of the tale of Bill Cosby and sexual assault. Over the past few years, Cosby has been accused of sexual assault, rape, sexual battery and more by over 60 women, spanning from 1965-2008. Despite the abundance of allegations, Cosby has been able to escape the full weight of law because the accusers came forward years after the alleged incidents occurred and well after the statute of limitations had run.

Many thought that Cosby would never see a courtroom despite the mounting complaints against him — that is until Andrea Constand stepped forward one more time.

In January 2004, a former Temple University employee named Andrea Constand alleged that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in his home outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In January 2005, the Montgomery County Detectives opened a criminal investigation. On February 22, 2005, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor released a statement on his office’s website that he found, “Insufficient, credible and admissible evidence exists upon which any charge against Mr. Cosby could be sustained beyond a reasonable doubt.” The case was then dropped.

In March 2005, Constand filed a civil suit against the former “Cosby Show” star. Instead of dealing with the likely celebrity news scandal that would surely follow, Cosby settled with Constand out of court for an undisclosed amount in November 2006.

Over a decade after the settlement, a motion was filed to void the confidentiality agreement that stemmed from settlement of the 2005 civil suit. In court, Constand’s attorney argued that Cosby himself had already displayed a ”total abandonment of the confidentiality portions of the agreement” with his denials of all allegations against him. On July 8, 2015, Judge Eduardo C. Robreno ruled to unseal some of the private documents in that civil case. In his ruling, the judge wrote that Cosby’s role as a “public moralist” was in contrast to his possible crimes. The unsealed documents were made public and showed that in 2005 Cosby had said that he intended to give Quaaludes to young women so that he could have sex with them (he insisted, however, that the sex was consensual).

The celebrity news world was then rocked when, after years of speculation and dozens upon dozens of accusations, Cosby was finally charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault on December 30, 2015.

Cosby’s attorneys have been fighting these charges tooth and nail ever since. On January 11, 2016, they filed a motion to dismiss the sexual assault charges stating that the local district attorney’s office had promised in 2005 that Cosby would not be prosecuted. On February 3, 2016, Judge Steven O’Neill ruled, “there was no basis” to dismiss the case based on Cosby’s assertions. Cosby’s legal team has made several attempts to have the criminal case thrown out but none have been successful. On September 6, 2016, Judge Steven O’Neill set a trial date for June 6, 2017. If convicted on all three counts, Cosby faces a maximum of of thirty years in prison and a fine up to $25,000. It should also be noted that Cosby is fighting dozens of civil suits for defamation when, through his lawyers, he called his accusers liars. One of those cases, a matter filed in Massachusetts, was dismissed in February 2017, and though others have also been dismissed, several remain active.

Want more celebrity news about Cosby and other celebs? Explore the pages on PROOF. We’ve got lots of celebrity news articles about your favorites!

Can the LAPD Stop the Knock-Knock Burglars?

Alanis Morissette, Burglaries, Celebrities, Celebrity News, Crimes, Criminal Law, LA Lakers, LAPD, Nick Young, Nicki Minaj

The facts seem more like the plot to a new Home Alone sequel instead of real life — but real life it is. There has been a rash of burglaries targeted at celebrities and other wealthy elite in the San Fernando Valley (yes, “The Valley”) and the crimes have been committed by the so-called “knock-knock burglars.”

Why knock-knock burglaries? It’s actually not very creative (not sure we want our cops being creative anyway; we’ve got enough creatives in LA!) but basically these burglars are groups of 3 or 4 people (aka gang members, according to LAPD. And when I say gang members, I mean real gang members despite the cutesy knock-knock name), one person knocks on the front door and once that person confirms, via the knock, that no one is home, he signals to the others and they look for doors and windows in which to access the house. The goal is not to hurt anyone personally or to engage in violence, rather it’s all about “the stuff.” The burglars then drive quickly from the scene and get rid of the goods by going to pawn shops or gold melting facilities–they keep the cash, as it’s not traceable.

Though the wealthy may be in fear over their lost riches there is a bevy of police power on the case. Lt. Todd Hankel, commanding officer of LAPD’s West Valley Area detectives, said that the San Fernando Valley Knock Knock Burglary Task Force is targeting the criminal street gang members who have been preying on the residents living in the ritzy communities such as Studio City, Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks, Chatsworth and Porter Ranch.

This news comes after Los Angeles Lakers’ Nick Young was the target of a recent theft in February with the criminals stealing cash and other valuables worth approximately $500,000. He’s not the only NBA star losing his loot. On Jan. 30, former Lakers player Derek Fisher’s Tarzana home was broken into, with thieves taking cash, jewelry and more worth approximately $300,000. Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig’s Sherman Oaks home was also hit by the knock-knock burglars.

But it’s not just the Valley that’s getting hit. PROOF had a one on one chat with Detective Dunn of the LAPD and the burglars are hitting homes from Santa Barbara to San Bernadino all the way to Newport. Apparently, celebs living in Malibu are a little safer than others because it’s just so darn hard to get out of Malibu quickly–PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and the canyon roads leading out of Malibu are the only ways in and out and if those roads get backed up the burglars are stuck with a car full of stolen loot. According to Detective Dunn, the knock-knock burglars want to get rid of the goods and turn it into cash as soon as possible. Maybe Nicki Minaj who lives in LA and had approximately $200,000 worth of items stolen as well as damage to her home and Alanis Morisette whose Brentwood home was also cleared out should consider a move. (And really it’s an extra bummer for Morisette who suffered another recent financial loss when her manager stole millions from her. Click here for full article on that theft).

But fret not famous people with lots of money and expensive things! According to the LAPD, the task force consists of roughly 30 officers divided among surveillance teams, undercover detectives and patrol cars working to prevent and curb these incidents. And, task forces such as this have been formed in the past and have been effective in reducing the number of burglaries, Detective Dunn told us! But celebs, watch your dogs because although the goal of the knock-knock burglars isn’t to engage in violence they are known to pepper spray dogs when they encounter them inside homes.

We think it’s great that there is a task force to help stop these crimes but celebs maybe lay off social media and stop tweeting, posting and instagramming your every move and you might avoid being hit. The fact is, when you let the bad guys know where we you at all times, you make it pretty easy on them.

Stay safe!

At PROOF we love celebrity news as much as you do. So if you want more, celebrity news about A-Listers (and others!), we welcome you to explore the rest of the site.

Celebrity News | Chris Brown Legal Problems

Chris Brown Facing Legal Problems…Again

Celebrities, Celebrity Lawsuits, Celebrity News, Celebs, Chris Brown, Court, Criminal Law, Domestic Violence, Ex-Girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, Restraining Order, Singer, Violence Against Women

Chris Brown has more legal problems. Two TROs (temporary restraining order) were issued against him in February 2017. His ex girlfriend, model, Karrueche Tran got one and now, one of Tran’s closest friends, Joseph Ryan LaCor, has one against him too.

It has been a wild 2017 already for the singer. It very clearly seems he still does not have control over his anger issues. On New Year’s, Brown apparently got into a violent fight with rapper Soulja Boy over Tran. Then on February 17, 2017, Tran, who for years was Brown’s on again, off again girlfriend finally stood up for herself and sought protection for herself-she sought a restraining order against Brown. In court documents she filed she alleged that Brown punched her in the stomach and pushed her down the stairs several years ago but that she did not call the police or report the incident (Tran, you are way too good to endure this type of relationship–all women, all humans are.) and that recently Brown has been sending her threatening texts. In the court documents, she included the following: “He told a few people that he was going to kill me. He said if no one else can have me, he’s gonna ‘take me out.” Due to his violent history, especially violence against women, a Chris Brown threat should not be ignored. And the LA court did not ignore the. They granted the request and now Chris Brown must stay away from Karrueche Tran or risk arrest, among other things.

So, how does LaCor fit into this story? Well, apparently Brown can’t leave well enough alone as it relates to Tran and has allegedly threatened to shoot Tran’s bestie, LaCor leaving LaCor with no choice but to seek the court’s protection as well.

In documents LaCor filed, it stated that Chris said about Tran and LaCor “no matter where we go, he will find us and shoot the place up.” LaCor also spoke of past conduct by Brown. “Chris Brown has threatened me and run up on me for not allowing him to bully Karrueche Tran in my presence. More recently, making threats to her saying that he will beat anyone that is friends with her.”

LaCor’s allegations are specific and also include details of a harrowing night hanging out with Tran at a 2017 Super Bowl party; Brown was also there. LaCor said that he was at the party for two hours when two men confronted him and told him to leave or he was, “going to have problems.” He said he decided to leave and that’s when, “Chris Brown ran up to me, got in my face, saying, ‘It’s 2017, Ima f–k you up every time I see you. So you better get the f–k out of here before I lay your ass out.””

LaCor also claims that Brown yelled at another friend of LaCor’s and threw a drink in her face. After that, smart move by LaCor–he left the party. Given all this information, the TRO was issued and now Brown must stay away from LaCor as well. Quite a collection Brown is building.

Brown has allegedly been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but too bad for him that is not a legal excuse to threaten people or assault them. With all this recent unacceptable, illegal, scary behavior, you’d think that Brown doesn’t know what is at stake. But after all his run-ins with the law, especially the domestic violence occurrence with Rihanna, he most certainly does. No excuse, Brown. Get help.

At PROOF we love celebrity news as much as you do. So if you want more, celebrity news about your favorites, we welcome you to explore the rest of the site.

Kendall Jenner is the Latest Kardashian to Have Her Jewelry Stolen

Burglaries, Celebrity News, Celebs, Crimes, Criminal Law, Kardashian, Kendall Jenner

Another day, another Kardashian crime victim–thankfully no threat of violence in this one.

Kendall Jenner is reporting that $200,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from her jewelry box in her Hollywood Hills home. While this theft occurred in the midst of the rash of celebrity burglaries at the hands of the knock-knock burglars, it’s not likely the result of that gang of thieves (For more information about the recent knock-knock burglaries, click here). Most think the culprit is someone Kendall knows or a friend of a friend who has access to her house because there were no signs of forced entry at the property.

On March 15, the 21-year-old hosted a party at her $6.5 million mansion, but for some reason she left her home for about an hour around midnight. Kendall’s security guard was stationed outside of the home but that didn’t prevent the bling stealing. Both a Rolex and Cartier are among Kendall’s missing goods. Apparently, Kendall didn’t realize the items were missing until after 1 AM but she called the police as soon as she did and reported the theft.

Much like her sister, Kim after the Paris burglary, Kendall fired the security guard who was hired to protect her and her house. Can’t imagine either of these guys thought they might be keeping their jobs. Good, swift decision, Kendall. You need someone who can actually do what they’re hired to do.

To date a suspect has not been identified but Jenner’s home has surveillance cameras so police are hopeful the footage will help find whoever is responsible for this crime.

Obviously we do not think Kendall deserved this anymore than Kim did or all the other celebs who have had their property stolen these past few months but police do suggest that celebs stop posting about their lavish lives on social media — it just makes it all too easy for criminals.

Interestingly, Detective Dunn of the LAPD also suggests that celebs “go public” and describe what has been stolen as it can help recover the items. For example, this has helped recover a stolen Super Bowl ring, among other things.

Though we know it’s not popular to say we feel bad for a Kardashian but we do feel sorry for Kendall. At PROOF we don’t like to see anyone used, taken advantage of or being the victim of a crime just because of who they are. We hope the thief responsible is apprehended and the world soon knows the type of “friend” this person really is.

Seeking more celebrity news? Check out other PROOF articles. We cover celebrity news like no one else!

Celebs and Criminal Pardons: Who Gets One?

Celebrity News, Celebs, Criminal Law, Hot, Legal, News, Videos, Watch

People v. OJ Simpson | Celebrity News | PROOF with Jill Stanley

The Case We Can’t Stop Talking About: The People V. O.J. Simpson

Athletes, Criminal Law, OJ Simpson

Most of us know that before he became an accused murderer, O.J. Simpson was a record-breaking NFL running back. After retiring from the game, he remained in the spotlight providing sports commentary, appearing in movies, or endorsing products. Who can forget the Hertz commercial of him running through the airport?

The Bronco and the Highway Chase

Perhaps one of the most bizarre aspects of the OJ murder arrest was on June 12, 1994 when every major TV station interrupted their broadcast to show a live shot of a slow car chase. This wasn’t just another LA mad gunman story: it was OJ Simpson allegedly fleeing a murder scene in a white Ford Bronco while his friend, Al Cowlings, was driving at or below the speed limit. Domino’s pizza reported one of the best days ever, with a record number of deliveries. The police found nearly $9,000 in cash, a fake mustache and goatee, makeup adhesive, a gun, and, Simpson’s passport in the Bronco. Very odd. Was Simpson going to escape the country in disguise, but somehow use his own passport. And the gun? What was that for? Simpson claimed he wasn’t running from anyone but I don’t know about you but when I’m driving with a friend in my car, I’m the one behind the wheel and he’s sitting next to me. I’m not in the back with fake hair, a pile of cash, and a gun.

The Murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman

Meanwhile, back at OJ’s Brentwood, CA (a toney LA neighborhood) home his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, were lying outside, dead allegedly killed by a single knife by a lone killer. The crime scene was littered with evidence: a bloody glove, a knit cap, and a trail of blood.

The Trial of the Century

Simpson was charged with the double murder. He plead not guilty despite the substantial amount of physical and circumstantial evidence, including DNA analysis as well as witness testimony against him. His legal team led by the late Johnnie Cochran, included Robert Kardashian, the father of Kim, Khloe and Kourtney (this was way before Kardashian became a household name). People were riveted by this case, it was all anyone was talking about. In fact, more than 100 million people tuned in to hear the jury’s Not Guilty verdict. As we all can remember: the glove did not fit so the jury acquitted.

Wrongful Death Suit Against Simpson

Not surprisingly, after the criminal case, the families of the deceased sued Simpson for wrongful death suit. The burden of proof in a civil suit is much lower than the beyond a reasonable doubt required in criminal case. This time the families were victorious. The civil jury found OJ liable for Brown and Goldman’s death and was ordered to pay more than$30 million in damages to the Brown and Goldman families.

Sentenced to Prison

That should have been the end of OJ’s legal troubles, right? But, it was not. He was arrested in 2007 for an incident in Las Vegas involving a hotel room robbery. He was charged with using a deadly weapon to commit burglary and armed robbery, and kidnapping. Simpson was sentenced to 33 years; he is eligible for parole in October 2017.

Books and TV Series,

Never one to shy from the spotlight, Simpson wrote a book titled, “If I Did It: Here’s How it Happened.” Actually, a ghost writer who authored it, but Simpson offered details of how and why he would have killed Brown and Goldman, if he had done it. Another odd aspect of this very odd tale. In 2007 a judge ordered rights to the book to the Goldman family. They published it and changed the title to: If I Did It: Confessions of a Killer. The proceeds from the book would go to the Goldman family as partial payment of the civil judgment (OJ had filed for bankruptcy) as well as other creditors, including the Brown family.

Dozens of OJ Simpson murder trial related books have come out over the years. Pretty much anyone involved with the trial or Simpson wrote a book: jury members, lawyers, Simpson’s friends, even an ex-girlfriend of his.

America’s fascination with OJ Simpson and the murders of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman continued and in early 2016, cable network, FX, presented season one of the true crime anthology TV series American Crime Story, and featured the The People v. O.J. Simpson. Critics loved it and the show won big at major award shows including the SAG awards, Emmys, and the Golden Globes.

Meet Two of Bill Cosby’s Accusers | Celeb News | PROOF with Jill Stanley

Meet Two of Bill Cosby’s Accusers: Ruehli and Constand

Bill Cosby, Criminal Law, Life, Top Stories, Trending

As we all know, the once adored creator and star of The Cosby Show has become one of America’s most despised men. To date, more than 50 women have publicly accused Bill Cosby of rape, sexual assault or attempted assault. His disturbing behavior spanned decades. Now, he has been charged and, in the coming year, will stand trial in a Pennsylvania court. His accusers vary in just about every aspect from age to appearance to socioeconomic background. We could spend days talking about these women, dissecting their lives and interaction with Cosby but, let’s look at two of his accusers as they serve to crystallize so much of what this case is about: the earliest victim, Kristina Ruehli, and the former basketball player, Andrea Constand, whose refusal to back down sparked Ruehli to speak up.

In December 1965, Kristina Ruehli, was a 22-year-old talent agency secretary whom Cosby invited to a cocktail party at his home. When she arrived fashionably late to the party, Ruehli was surprised she was the only one there. She quickly realized there was, in fact, no party but agreed to stay for a cocktail– he was Bill Cosby after all. Ruehli only remembers her first few of sips. When she regained consciousness hours later, she found herself with Cosby in his bedroom; he was attempting to force her to perform oral sex. Ashamed and embarrassed, Ruehli, the beautiful, blue eyed blonde did not report the incident. But in 2005, buoyed by the stories of other victims, Ruehli gained the courage to speak out. Specifically, it was during Andrea Constand’s civil lawsuit that Ruehli exposed what Cosby had done to her. Ruehli, now 73 years old, has since dropped her charges against Cosby. But she did not do so for want of proof or because she felt some latent shame for herself or sympathy for Cosby but rather because she believes her suit against him did what she wanted it to do: shed light on the issue of sexual assault in this country. Can’t fault a woman for that.

Cosby approached Andrea Constand in 2002 while both were affiliated with Temple University in Philadelphia. He offered to act as her mentor. Who would say no to that? One time while Constand was at Cosby’s house she mentioned that she was feeling anxious. He gave her an herbal pill that he said would help ease that. Ok, maybe that wasn’t the smartest choice by Constand but remember, she was a fan and Cosby was widely known as a fatherly figure, very upstanding. The pill did a lot more than reduce Constand’s anxiety. It made her immobile. She was unable to escape while Cosby undressed her and sexually assaulted her. For years, she kept the assault a secret, but after struggling through nightmares and depression, she finally let it out. She filed a civil lawsuit against Cosby and that matter was resolved via a confidential settlement in 2006. One of the clauses in the settlement? Constand was not to talk about the matter with anyone. But, she cooperated with law enforcement during a subsequent criminal investigation. An investigation that led to Cosby’s arrest. Cosby and his legal team did not make it easy on Constand. He sued her for violating the agreement and demanded that she return the money that he paid her. In July 2016, U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno ruled that Constand’s cooperation in the investigation did not violate the nondisclosure provision in the 2006 settlement. Cosby will now stand trial. With regard to proof Cosby’s trial is going to rival that of O.J’s.

Hope You Like Orange, Jerry | Celebrity News | PROOF with Jill Stanley

We Hope You Like Orange, Jerry Sandusky

Athletes, Criminal Law, Daily, Jerry Sandusky, Top Stories

With college football season about to kick off, Jerry Sandusky is back in the news. Yes, the Jerry Sandusky of Paterno and Penn State “fame.” We all thought we were done with this convicted child molester thanks to the 30-60 year sentence that was handed down in 2012 but alas, no. Just this week, Sandusky took the stand at a hearing in which he sought to have his conviction overturned or at least receive a new trial. Based on what you ask? In layman’s terms, he is arguing that his lawyer was so bad that it resulted in him being wrongly convicted and, at the very least, Jerry should have another chance to prove his innocence. These types of appeals, based on what is referred to as an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, are not easily won—even appeals based on lawyers who were sleeping during a trial have not been found to have been ineffective! So, Sandusky’s claim that his lawyer never really explained to him what it meant for him not to testify or that he gave him bad advice when he allowed him to be interviewed on camera by Bob Costas (Really? You were an assistant coach at a college football powerhouse for 30 years and you didn’t know the effect of an interview with a well-known sportscaster?) are not likely to sway the judge. The fact is judges generally defer to trial court findings. So, orange is definitely remaining the new black for you Jerry. No way you win this one.

Top Criminal Lawyer Elizabeth New Jersey | Teresa Guidice Mug Shot | Celebrity Criminal News | PROOF with Jill stanley

Teresa and Joe Giudice Thought They Were Above the Law

Celebrities, Celebrity Lawsuits, Celebrity News, Celebs, Criminal Law, Joe Guidice, Real Housewives of New Jersey, Teresa Guidice

Teresa and Joe Giudice of Real Housewives of New Jersey notoriety (notice I don’t say fame) bragged constantly on air and social media about their family, their money and their material possessions. To many, they were brash, rude and offensive so in 2013 when they faced a federal multi-count indictment detailing white collar crimes ranging from conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud to making false statements on loan applications, to bankruptcy fraud, among other things, there was not a great deal of empathy for the showy duo. (Note that Joe faced additional charges for failing to file tax returns from 2004-2008.)

Teresa and Joe pleaded not guilty to the charges in the federal indictment and so solid (delusional?) was Teresa’s belief in her innocence that her lawyer stated that they were looking forward to vindication. As we all well know, that vindication was not to come because on March 4, 2014, Teresa and Joe struck a plea deal with prosecutors. They each pleaded guilty to various counts of fraud; Joe’s plea included a count for failing to file tax returns.

On October 2, 2014, the mother of four was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. Joe was sentenced to 41 months, followed by possible deportation to Italy, where he was born (his parents moved him to the Garden State when he was a year old). In addition the couple was ordered to pay $414,000 in restitution.

From the bench, U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas, who presided over the case, said to Teresa, “For a moment I thought about probation but I think a period of confinement is absolutely necessary in this case.” The judge added, “I don’t honestly believe that you understand or respect the law. I need to send a message. In the eyes of the law, it doesn’t matter who you are. There are consequences to pay.”

And pay they have … Teresa went off first and began her sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut on January 5, 2015. She was released two months early on the morning of December 23, 2015. Respected Elizabeth New Jersey criminal lawyer, Michael Borneo, said the following about Teresa’s sentence: “Judges typically have tremendous discretion when sentencing a criminal defendant. It amazes me how often clients show disrespect to the court and learn this lesson the hard way. By all accounts, Teresa Giudice could have avoided prison. Her poor attitude tilted the scales of justice against her.”

Joe is a different story and is currently serving his 41-month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey. Note that this matter isn’t Joe’s first run-in with the law nor his first criminal conviction. In November 2013, he stood trial on charges that in 2010 he used his brother’s marriage and birth certificates to illegally obtain a driver’s license. Joe’s license had been suspended as a result of a DUI earlier that year and apparently he thought this was a good way to get a new one! All that waiting around at DMV for nothing. Joe was convicted, his license was revoked for 12 months, and he was sentenced to 20 days of community service.

Many of us had hoped that being convicted of a crime, publicly humiliated, and shipped off to prison forcing her to be away from her beloved daughters (despite her many shortcomings it is obvious that Teresa is committed to her family and loves her girls very much) would have changed Teresa but it appears it did not. Teresa maintains her innocence and ignorance about the charges levied against her. She still posts pictures of herself and her girls on Instagram which depict a lavish style–one of fancy clothes, jewelry, and just plain over abundance. Prison may be a reality check for many but not for this Jersey reality queen.

I do give great credit to Judge Salas for allowing Joe and Teresa to serve their sentences at different times so that one parent could be home with the children while the other was “locked up”. The kids didn’t ask for this drama in their lives and having both parents gone at the same time would have been very traumatic for them.

If you enjoyed reading about the criminal mess these New Jersey “celebs” created for themselves, please visit the rest of PROOF for more of our one of a kind take on celebrity news.

Top Criminal Lawyer Elizabeth NJ

[Category: Teresa Giudice | New Jersey | Top Criminal Lawyer Elizabeth NJ]

Are Aaron Hernandez Tattoos Evidence? | Celeb News | Proof with Jill Stanley

Aaron Hernandez Tattoos Admissable in Double Murder Trial

Athletes, Criminal Law, Legal

Aaron Hernandez had it all—a $41M contract with the New England Patriots, a beautiful fiancée, a new baby girl, and a large home in Massachusetts. All that came to a crashing end when in June 2013 he was charged with first degree murder of Odin Lloyd, the boyfriend of his fiancée’s sister. Things got worse from there. In 2014 he was indicted for the 2012 murders of Daniel Jorge Correia de Abreu and Safiro Teixeira Furtado. In 2015, he was convicted of the murder of Lloyd and sentenced to life in prison; he was indicted that same year for witness intimidation of Alexander Bradley, Hernandez’ “friend” who was with him the night of the double murder of Abreu and Furtado and allegedly saw what occurred. (This wasn’t just any ole’ witness intimidation. Hernandez is accused of shooting Bradley in an effort to silence him about what he saw that night). The witness intimidation matter is on hold but Hernandez is set to stand trial in 2017 for the double murders. Talk about a fall from grace. Stores today can hardly give away a #81 Patriot jersey.

Along with being known as a great tight end, Hernandez was also well known for his body ink. He was frequently photographed showing it off so it’s somewhat of a just dessert that his tattoos would one day come back to haunt him in a very real way. And that is exactly what is happening now.

In 2013, Hernandez went to a California tattoo parlor and added three tattoos to his collection. All three of the tattoos are on Hernandez’ arm. Each of the three, the prosecution argued in its’ motion, had meaning and served to commemorate the double murder and the witness shooting. The first one is of a revolver with five bullets in the chamber—one bullet is missing. The night of the double murder, five shots were fired into the car in which the decedents were seated. The second tattoo says “God Forgives.” The words are written backwards so they can only properly be read in a mirror. The third tattoo is of semi-automatic gun with smoke coming out of it along with one spent shell casing. This is the type of gun ballistics showed was used in the Bradley shooting. Further, allegedly, one spent shell casing was found on the ground next to Bradley. Assistant District Attorney, Patrick Haggan, the prosecutor handling the Hernandez case argued that these tattoos link him to the crimes and should therefore be admissible.

It should be noted that after Hernandez’ conviction for the murder of Lloyd he hired new attorneys. Currently he has a five member defense team. The most famous? Jose Baez, who is best known as being the lead attorney in the Casey Anthony trial. You remember her—mother of the year, in 2011 was acquitted of murdering her two year old daughter, Caylee. Naturally Baez and the rest of the team is fighting the government at every turn and with no holds barred. They argued that the prosecution’s theory was speculative, called for inference and that the tattoos were not relevant to the case. They further contended that allowing jurors to hear about these tattoos would violate Hernandez’ constitutional right to a fair trial. No win for Baez on this round. The court ruled that all three tattoos are admissible as evidence at trial for the purpose of connecting Hernandez to the killings. Good ruling, your honor but with the current state of the law regarding tattoos as evidence, you may just have created an appealable issue should Hernandez be found guilty. And though it would be interesting to see how a higher court rules on the matter, it won’t make make much difference for Hernandez as he is already serving a life sentence for the Lloyd murder and still has to face those witness intimidation charges.

Last, Hernadez is facing several civil lawsuits stemming from his actions. After paying all of his lawyer fees though, I’m not sure how much of those NFL millions will be left to satisfy any civil judgments. For a better sense of what Hernandez’ lawyers are costing him, check out my video on how much criminal lawyers charge.

*Photo by Jeffrey Beall

From Shailene Woodley to Justin Bieber: The Best of Celebrity Mug Shots

Bill Cosby, Celebrity Mug Shots, Celebrity News, Celebs, Crimes, Criminal Law, Dustin Diamond, Justin Bieber, Lindsay Lohan, Nick Carter, Pawn Shop, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Shia LaBeouf

From bar bust ups to drunk driving to “unintentional” trespassing and more, celebrities are no strangers to arrests. And of course with an arrest comes the dreaded celebrity mug shot, which is sure to be plastered across the Internet even before the celeb has called his lawyer!

Celebrity mug shots might just be our favorite form of selfie– well, it’s not really as selfie but we sure do like looking at them (Must be because without make up, the right lighting, a professional photographer and some retouching most celebs look a lot more like we do than we thought!).

Check out some of the celebrity mug shots of Hollywood hottest stars, and even a few of those forgotten about players who just happen to have a celebrity mug shot worth talking about!

Shailene Woodley

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Reese Witherspoon isn’t the only “Big Little Lies” cast member to have her celebrity mug shot taken. “Divergent” star Shailene Woodley also had a run in with the law. And though we might be biased because we absolutely love Shailene Woodley, we have to say that out of all the celebrity mug shots, Woodley’s is pretty much the most adorable!

So, how’d she get to be part of the celebrity mug shot walk of fame? On October 10, 2016, Woodley and 27 other people were arrested during a protest at Standing Rock, while attempting to block the Dakota Access pipeline. Live footage of the actress’ arrest was streamed to roughly 40,000 viewers via her Facebook page. Later, she was strip searched in jail. I know, it seems weird to strip search someone following this type of offense and though kinda gross one can likely conclude that it might be related to her celebrity status (imagine those bragging rights?!) but despite Woodley also being “just shocked” by the strip search, apparently is is common practice in that jurisdiction for low level crimes. Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chair Dave Archambault II and others have also been strip-searched after being arrested for nonviolent civil disobedience against the pipeline.

After the arrest and resulting strip search, the environmental activist said: “Every time we allow another pipeline … we are endorsing the fossil fuel industry and only prolonging the time it is going to take to switch to renewable energy.”

We at PROOF aren’t fans of breaking the law but Woodley’s cause was a noble and good one. We commend her for her bravery and standing up for what she believes in–no matter the consequences. Keep fighting the good fight, Shailene!

Reese Witherspoon

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The “Big Little Lies” actress and her husband, Jim Toth, were arrested in Atlanta in 2013. Toth was pulled over for suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Atlanta. Apparently Reese didn’t like that so much. So much so that she got into an argument with the police officer, which led to her arrest.

This celebrity mug shot is pretty unusual because it’s a pretty unusual mug shot for anyone — Witherspoon is looking down! The whole point of mug shots are for identification purposes. We have to wonder if the Atlanta PD gave the superstar a pass on looking at the camera because of her A-list status.

Either way, shortly after her jail release, the actress issued a statement saying there was “no excuse” for her behavior.

“I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. The words I used that night definitely do not reflect who I am. I have nothing but respect for the police and I am very sorry for my behavior.”

Nick Carter

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Backstreet Boy Nick Carter may not have wanted it that way (sorry, sometimes we just can’t help ourselves with these puns!!) when he was arrested in Florida on January 13, 2016. The boybander was booked by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office on a misdemeanor battery charge following an incident outside Hog’s Breath Saloon in Key West.

The singer was released after pleading not guilty and posting $1,500 bail. He was ordered to stay away from the bar.

Unfortunately for Carter, an employee at the Hog’s Breath, Skylar Carden, 21, filed a civil lawsuit against Carter a few weeks later, in which he accused the singer and former “Dancing with the Stars” runner-up of battery.

In a statement accompanying the lawsuit, Carter’s lawyer, Mark DiCowden’s said, “Nick Carter has shown the world that he is nothing more than a backstreet thug.” And you thought our pun was bad? Nick Carter,a thug? And what’s a backstreet thug?? All we picture is a good looking boy band member singing romantic songs. That’s not so scary! But the lawsuit did contain some scary allegations including that the singer “violently attacked” Carden by “striking and choking” him.

Carter settled the matter out of court–the terms of the settlement are not public–and the case was dismissed with prejudice (remember this means Carden can’t bring the suit again for any reason).

Pawn Stars Austin “Chumlee” Russell

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Austin “Chumlee” Russell, star of the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars” was arrested in Las Vegas on March 10, 2016 and charged with drug possession and “prohibited person in possession of a firearm,” according to the Las Vegas Metro Police Department.

Here’s the really crazy part of this story: officers were serving a warrant at the reality star’s house for a sexual assault case when they found Russell with at least one gun, as well as with methamphetamine and marijuana.

In May 2016, Russell pleaded guilty in Las Vegas court to attempted possession of a controlled substance. As a result of the deal, Russell did not have to go to jail for the misdemeanor charge, instead he was sentenced to three years’ probation. The felony count of ownership or possession of a firearm by a prohibited person was stayed. If Russell completes the terms of his probation, the gun charge will be dismissed. And, that sexual assault charge that started the whole thing? Police have confirmed that Russell has not been charged at the time for that.

Bill Cosby

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We know we talk about Bill Cosby a lot on PROOF but we can’t help it, there are just so many aspects of his wrongdoing that make for excellent legal lessons! And so, Bill Cosby’s infamous celebrity mug shot, which was years in the making after dozens upon dozens of accusations. As PROOF readers know, there is only one criminal case going forward against the disgraced funny man. He has been free on $1 million bail, but faces up to 10 years in jail for each of the sexual assault counts he is facing.

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s office in Pennsylvania, where he is set to stand trial, released this mugshot shortly after his arraignment. Those do not look like the same kindly eyes of Dr. Huxtable. Unbelievable downfall.

Shia Labeouf

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Shia Labeouf has been arrested more than once but of course his most famous celebrity mug shot was after getting drunk at Broadway musical “Cabaret” in New York City. In this shot, Labeouf has a big smile on his face and looks like he’s been crying. It’s unnerving to say the least!

According to police, the “Transformers” star was smoking inside the Studio 54 theater and acting “loud and disruptive” during the first act of the musical. Law enforcement officials were notified. The “Transformers” actor was arrested during intermission, handcuffed, and escorted out of the theater.

He was then charged with two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of criminal trespassing before being released.

Shia has since been arrested again in connection with his HeWillNotDivide.US protest but was also quickly released. For more information on that, click here.

Dustin Diamond

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We all loved super nerd Screech on Saved by the Bell, too bad that geeky kid turned out to be such a not-so-great adult. Dustin Diamond gave off some seriously dangerous vibes when he made his way into the celebrity mug shots wall of fame after he was arrested in Wisconsin for allegedly stabbing a man with a switchblade on Christmas Day 2014.

The former teen actor was charged with possession of a switchblade, reckless endangerment and carrying a concealed weapon.

He was later convicted of carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors. He served nearly three months in jail.

Lindsay Lohan

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We love this one of Lindsay Lohan’s celebrity mug shots because she’s just so over it. She’s like — been there, done that!

This is the redhead’s mugshot from March 19, 2013 when she turned herself into the Santa Monica police. She eventually pleaded no contest to reckless driving and providing false information to the police who were investigating an accident that happened the previous summer.

The troubled star was sentenced to 90 days in a lockdown rehab facility. Want more information about Lohan and the criminal justice system, click here and here.

Justin Bieber

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Oh, Justin! We love you but you make it so hard on us sometimes. What do we at PROOF have to say about our favorite bad boy’s celebrity mug shot? Well, does is not look like Bieber is having the best day of his life? Does to us! In reality though he has just been arrested for a DUI and drag-racing in Miami in 2014. Must have been a really fun race!

On the serious side though, at a press conference, a spokesperson for Miami Beach Police said that the arresting officer “smelled odor of alcoholic beverage” on the singer. Bieber was also charged with driving with an expired license and resisting arrest without violence.

We at PROOF are crossing our fingers and hoping that there are no celebrity mug shots of Bieber–even if they do look as good as this one!

At PROOF we love celebrity news as much as you do. So if you want more, celebrity news about A-Listers (and others!), we welcome you to explore the rest of the site.