After quite a few delays, rapper Lil’ Wayne (née Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.) finally showed up yesterday morning to be formally sentenced for his illegal weapons possession conviction in NYC and today he begins serving his term at Rikers Island. Wayne has been sentenced to serve 12 months in prison (but will actually be serving out his term in state jails due to his celebrity) with the possibility of early release in 8 months for good behavior. Here is Lil’ Wayne’s booking mug shot and some deets from his last moments as a free may yesterday morning:

After saying goodbye on concert stages and online video streams, Lil Wayne had nothing to add as he was sentenced Monday to a year in jail for having a loaded gun on his tour bus. The Grammy Award-winning rapper delivered only a brief bow to fans and supporters as he was led out of a courtroom in handcuffs to start serving his sentence. With that, Lil Wayne headed off to face his punishment in a case that had shadowed him as he became one of music’s most prolific and profitable figures in recent years. Arrested in July 2007, he pleaded guilty in October to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He admitted he had the loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic gun on his bus. His lawyer, Stacey Richman, said the rapper was resolute as he was taken away. “He knew what he had to do, and he’s doing it,” she said. Lil Wayne arrived later Tuesday at the Rikers Island jail complex, where he was being held apart from the general population of inmates because of his fame. He has a cell to himself but the option of spending time in a TV room with 17 other inmates who also have been separated from the general population because of notoriety or other reasons, according to the city Correction Department. It wasn’t immediately clear what work assignment he might have, if any. The 27-year-old rap star could be released in about eight months with good behavior … Although Lil Wayne had agreed to go to jail, a number of roadblocks kept him from starting his sentence in recent weeks. First, his sentencing was postponed in February so he could undergo surgery on his bejeweled teeth. Then, a fire shut down Manhattan’s main criminal courthouse while he was on his way there last week. He told Rolling Stone for a story last month that he planned to keep working while behind bars. “I’ll be still rapping in there, have a gang of raps ready when I come back home,” he said. As for listening to music, inmates are allowed to buy AM/FM radios at the jail commissary.

As I said before, this prison sentence will end up being a boon for Lil’ Wayne’s career. Don’t cry for him, Argentina … he’ll deffo be turning these lemons into very lucrative lemonade once he gets out of jail in 8 months. After the jump, check out Wayne’s side profile mug shot along with a video report from MTV about Wayne’s day of reckoning …

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Paris Hilton managed to get busted in SoCal this week for illegally driving her car in a bike lane. As far as I know, she did not accidentally hit any bikers with her vehicle but who knows what would’ve happened had the police officer pull her over. Meh, it happens to everyone, I’m sure … but it’s kinda funny when stuff like this happens to Paris Hilton:

Paris Hilton had a lucky escape from the law yesterday after she accidentally drove in a bicycle lane. The hotel heiress, 29, was spotted veering her GMC Yukon Hybrid into the cyclists’ lane on her way back from a shopping trip in Hollywood. After being stopped by police, Hilton was given a stern talking to by an officer, who then let her continue her journey with a warning. Seated at the wheel of her 2008 4X4, Hilton obediently showed the officer her driving license. Hilton was on her way back home after splashing out several thousand dollars in the Apple store on Melrose Avenue. During her retail excursion, she updated her Twitter page: ‘Just got some new computers and electronic gadgets at The Melrose Mac Store. I am such a tech nerd ;) I can’t help it! Technology Rocks! :)’

What I don’t understand is why the cops continue to let celebs off with warnings like this. I find it very hard to believe that Paris Hilton would really learn a lesson from a “stern-talking to” but, then again, I doubt a $70 ticket would have any greater effect. I guess the lesson here is if you encounter Paris Hilton behind the wheel of a car … run for your life in the other direction! Oh and steer clear of the bike lane … cuz Paris sure can’t! OY!

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And the hits just keep on comin’ for our sad child stars from days of yore. It’s bad enough that former child star and Diff’rent Strokes actor Gary Coleman has been having his own troubles with the law, today we learn that former child star Brian Bonsall (who starred in Family Ties and Star Trek: The Next Generation) has been arrested again … for the third time (the second time in 3 months), this time around for failing to pass a drug test while out on bond from his last arrest. As you may recall, Bonsall was just arrested in December on charges of assault. Homie just got busted again this week for drugs:

Former “Family Ties” child TV star Brian Bonsall is in trouble again — this time over drug tests that allegedly showed he has used marijuana while out on bond. Brian Bonsall, 28, was out on bond after being charged with third-degree assault and failure-to-appear in Boulder. During a court appearance on Friday, he was arrested after the prosecutor said he violated conditions of his bond. Deputy District Attorney Amy Okubo said Bonsall tested positive for marijuana in a Feb. 15 urine test and had several other diluted urine tests. Okubo said he believed the reason the urine tests were diluted was “because he was trying to hide drug use.” Bonsall’s attorney said his client had applied for a medical marijuana license, although it wasn’t clear if he already had one. The court-appointed attorney said Bonsall is a candidate for medical marijuana due to severe head injuries he has suffered. The original assault charges stem from an alleged incident involving a friend of Bonsall who said he was hit in the face with a stool. Okubo said one of the conditions of Bonsall’s bond were “no drugs.”

Ugh. Stories like this are just heartbreakingly sad. It sounds as if Bonsall (and for that matter, Colman as well) is stuck in a sad loop of misery, crime and despair. You hope that people learn from their mistakes but when stuff like this just keeps happening, well, you begin to fear what will come next. I’m afraid that Brian Bonsall will either end up spending the majority of life in jail or he’ll end up dead. I hope for his sake he can, somehow, get the help he desperately needs … absent that, I hope he goes the jail route because it would be just too tragic if this young man ended up dead :(

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Back in December, we learned the not-so-shocking news that Courtney Love lost custody of her only child — Frances Bean — which was then clarified to reveal that Frances chose to live with her grandmother to get away from her mother’s care. Since that time, a restraining order was put in place against Courtney on behalf of Frances presumably for her safety. Today we learn that that restraining order has been extended for a few more months, a clear indication that Frances Bean wants nothing to do with her mother’s influence on her life:

The judge’s order prohibiting Courtney Love from having contact with her daughter — Frances Bean Cobain — has just been extended … and the clock is now ticking on their relationship. The judge had stripped Courtney of legal control of her daughter back in December. The judge also issued a restraining order. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the restraining order has now been extended to April 9. Fact is — Frances Bean turns 18 in August. At that point, it’s up to her … not a judge … to decide what relationship she wants to have with her mother. For now, Frances Bean’s guardians are Wendy O’Connor (Kurt Cobain’s mom), and Kimberly Dawn Cobain (Kurt’s sister).

Ugh … what a shame. It’s prolly for the best that C. Love be kept away from Frances. Courtney is bizzy trying to re-launch her music career and it really sounds like Frances needs caring adults in her life who will be there to care for her, to put her needs first. It’s a shame when things like this happen but this restraining order sounds like it’s not a bad thing after all. It sure is a damn shame, tho.

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As you may recall, former child star and Diff’Rent Strokes star Gary Coleman was arrested in Utah last month for failing to appear in court to answer criminal charges that were brought against him from a domestic incident that occurred with his wife, Shannon Price (who, herself, was arrested last year on charges of domestic battery last Summer) last April. It turns out that Coleman was not able to appear in court as scheduled because he was admitted to the hospital for heart trouble but, because the police were not informed of that development, he was arrested … booked … and spent a night in jail as a result (sadly, we saw Coleman being released from jail in a wheelchair). Today we learn that a healthier-looking Coleman did appear in court yesterday to answer the charges brought against him and he plead guilty to Criminal Mischief charges (downgraded from Domestic Violence charges) from that April ‘09 domestic incident. Here are photos of Gary Coleman leaving court in Utah yesterday and some deets of his latest court dealings:

Former child television star Gary Coleman pleaded guilty yesterday to a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge related to a domestic violence incident last April. In a deal with the prosecutor, Coleman entered the plea in Santaquin Justice Court in Utah on his 42nd birthday. The star, who has had numerous health complaints in recent months, looked the worse for wear during his court appearance. Last month he left Utah County Jail in a wheelchair, after he was arrested for missing a court appearance. Court clerk Jane Swan said the original charge of domestic violence assault was dropped, although no details of the April 18 incident were detailed in court documents. However, Coleman’s defence attorney Randy Kester told The Associated Press that Coleman and his wife, Shannon Price, 24, had an argument which got out of hand. ‘No one was injured and no ambulances were called. It was just a disagreement,’ Kester said. Judge Sharla Williams sentenced Coleman to 31 and a half days in jail. However the Diff’rent Strokes star will serve the time only if he fails to complete a domestic violence course and pay a $595 (£382) fine. ‘I think it’s an exceptionally fair resolution,’ Coleman’s attorney, Randy Kester, told the AP by phone. ‘He’s been under an extreme amount of stress.’ Kester said Coleman has suffered a string of health problems – dialysis for an ongoing kidney condition and heart surgery that was complicated by pneumonia last autumn – and has struggled to find work. Coleman was arrested last month on a warrant for failing to appear in court. He spent a night in jail before a fan paid his $1,725 (£1,108) bail. Kester said Coleman missed the court appearance because he was in hospital.

OY!! Gary Coleman has the WORST LUCK EVER … but I sincerely hope that this plea deal will keep him out of jail from here on out. His relationship with his wife, Shannon Price, sounds just horrible … and has caused him nothing but misery ever since they got together. The majority of his public embarrassments and criminal charges stem from his relationship with Price. I think it may be time for him to get out … tho, if the couple are dependent on one another then they will, likely, end up staying together. It must really suck to be hauled into court to plead guilty to criminal charges on one’s birthday but, then again, considering the luck that Coleman has been having in recent years … it’s not nearly as crappy as being arrested for failing to appear in court — because you were near death in a hospital! UGH! Keep your head down and stay out of trubs, Gary … I’m not sure how much more of this self-imposed misery you’re able to endure :(

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At long last, authorities in charge of the Michael Jackson Death Investigation have charged MJ’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray in his death. Murray showed up at court today, as did members of the immediate Jackson family, to face a charge of Involuntary Manslaughter in regards to MJ’s sudden death last Summer. Here are photos of Dr. Murray, Katherine Jackson (MJ’s mother) and La Toya Jackson (MJ’s older sister) arriving at court and deets of the just launched criminal trial proceedings:

Nearly eight months after Michael Jackson died suddenly, his personal physician was charged Monday with involuntary manslaughter for providing him with a powerful anesthetic that was ruled a major factor in his death. The filing of the charges capped an investigation that revealed Mr. Jackson’s heavy reliance on narcotics, including propofol, an anesthetic normally used in surgery but administered to Mr. Jackson, 50, as a sleep aid. The doctor, Conrad Murray, a cardiologist with offices in Houston and Las Vegas, had acknowledged giving Mr. Jackson the drug shortly before the singer was found unconscious on June 25 in a rented mansion here, according to police affidavits. The coroner determined that Mr. Jackson had died from “acute propofol intoxication,” combined with other sedatives. Dr. Murray, 56, who arrived in Los Angeles last week trailed by paparazzi, has maintained through his lawyer that nothing he gave Mr. Jackson should have caused his death. If convicted, he faces a possible maximum four-year state prison term. Dr. Murray arrived at the Airport Courthouse here shortly before his arraignment was scheduled to begin, at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time, escorted by lawyers and sheriff’s deputies and without handcuffs. At least 24 television trucks and journalists yammering in a multitude of languages were awaiting his arrival, along with a smattering of fans, some bearing signs “Justice for Michael.” A Jackson impersonator did his moves, sometimes prompted, sometimes not. About an hour earlier, some members of the Jackson family had arrived in S.U.V.’s. Mr. Jackson’s father, Joseph — in sunglasses, a black suit and fedora, and red tie — paused by the curb, waiting for the others. Jermaine Jackson, the singer’s brother, and his wife, Halima Rashid, held hands as they walked toward the doors, followed by his sister, La Toya, in a bright pink blazer. The family members were escorted by five sheriff’s deputies, who then clustered by the entrance as they funneled in. The charge came after a week of negotiations between Dr. Murray’s lawyers and prosecutors that one of his lawyers said bogged down over whether Dr. Murray should be handcuffed and arrested, as opposed to surrendering at a courthouse in a more low-key way … Dr. Murray, according to police affidavits, was administering propofol to Mr. Jackson — the singer called it his “milk” — to help him sleep on the morning of June 25. Dr. Murray said he left the room for approximately two minutes to make a telephone call and found Mr. Jackson had stopped breathing when he returned. Efforts to revive Mr. Jackson at the house and a hospital were not successful, and the investigation of his death quickly focused on the drugs he was taking. Dr. Murray had no previous brush with celebrity until he began working as Mr. Jackson’s personal physician in May, after meeting him through an acquaintance in Las Vegas. He was promised $150,000 a month and had planned to accompany Mr. Jackson on his comeback tour, 50 concerts in London that were scheduled for July 2009 through next month.

This charge of Involuntary Manslaughter sounds about right to me. As I said before, I sincerely doubt that Dr. Murray intended to kill Michael Jackson. While it will be up to a jury of his peers to determine if he is guilty of his crime, I still believe that MJ’s death was not intentional. This court case is bond to be a media circus … especially since Michael Jackson is so well-known. After the jump, find out what TMZ has discovered from the final coroner’s report relating to MJ’s death and see what sort of evidence Dr. Murray is up against in this case against him …

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Accomplished and talented fashion designer Marc Jacobs is suing tacky, hack designer Christian Audigier for trade dress and trademark infringement of one of his purse designs. Jacobs feels that one of Audigier’s tacky purse designs looks almost exactly like his design for the Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon tote bag. Here are the purses, side-by-side, along with some deets of the lawsuit:

Designer Christian Audigier’s Nervous Tattoo, Inc. is being sued by Marc Jacobs’ company for trade dress and trademark infringement over purse designs. Marc Jacobs designs apparel and accessories, including purses, and has a pending application for its random “Marc Jacobs” scrambled trademark. Marc Jacobs has applied the scrambled trademark to the inside lining of the “Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon” tote bag. And the tote bag’s “size, shape, color or color combinations, product design, texture, and selection and arrangement of materials and accessories” are claimed to serve as its trade dress. Plaintiffs accuse Defendants of selling tote bags that “bear trade dress that unlawfully copies or imitates Plaintiffs’ unique, distinctive, and non-functional Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon Tote Trade Dress and/or that unlawfully bear marks confusingly similar to the Marc Jacobs Scrambled Trademark.” In addition, Plaintiffs assert claims for unfair competition under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 and constructive trust.

I understand the precedent in cases like this holds that if the two designs bear overt product name labeling, then the plaintiff has no claim of consumer brand confusion. It’s evident that the designs look almost identical … I have to say I’m on Team Jacobs here. The Ed Hardy line is so fug IMHO, it’s a shame that a design created by a designer with talent might get confused with a tacky hack like Christian Audigier. What do y’all think … does Marc Jacobs have a case here?

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