For most, Christmas is a season of peace, family gatherings, and festive cheer. Yet for a surprising number of Hollywood celebrities, the yuletide period has been marked by the cold reality of handcuffs, fingerprinting, and time behind bars. Instead of calling loved ones, their top dial has been to their lawyer.
High-Profile Festive Season Arrests
The list of stars who have faced legal trouble during the holidays is both extensive and shocking, with a grim gallery of mugshots to prove it. Among the most notable are Charlie Sheen, his ex-wife Brooke Mueller, Lindsay Lohan's stepmother Kate Major, Mischa Barton, and the disgraced comedian Bill Cosby.
Charlie Sheen's notorious Christmas Day arrest occurred in 2009 in Aspen, Colorado. The Two And A Half Men actor was charged with assault, menacing, and criminal mischief. After eight hours in jail and posting an $8,500 bond, he later struck a plea deal. This reduced the charges to misdemeanor assault, resulting in a sentence of 30 days in rehab, probation, and anger management classes.
Two years later, his then-wife, Brooke Mueller, was also arrested in Aspen on December 2, 2011. She faced allegations of assault and cocaine possession, posting an $11,000 bond upon release. Mueller later pleaded guilty to the drug charge.
More Stars in Festive Handcuffs
Mischa Barton was just 21 when she was arrested on December 28, 2007 for suspected drunk driving and possession of a controlled substance. A plea deal saw her receive three years of probation, alcohol education, and a $2,000 fine.
In a more recent case, Richard Grieco of 21 Jump Street fame was arrested for public intoxication on December 5, 2019 at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport after being denied boarding.
One of the most serious cases involves Bill Cosby, arrested on December 30, 2015 on charges of sexual assault and drugging. He was later convicted and sentenced to three to 10 years in prison, with an appeal rejected in January 2022.
Reality TV and Family Drama
The festive season has also ensnared reality stars and celebrity relatives. Luann de Lesseps from The Real Housewives of New York City was arrested in Palm Beach on December 23, 2017 for battery on an officer and disorderly intoxication. She pleaded guilty and received probation and community service.
Kate Major, stepmother to Lindsay Lohan, spent Christmas 2018 in jail after attacking a bus driver. She pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
Other notable festive season arrests include:
- Bar Refaeli: The model and ex-girlfriend of Leonardo DiCaprio was arrested in Israel for tax evasion on December 17, 2015.
- Jesse Luken: The Glee actor was arrested for DUI after a solo crash on Christmas Day 2018.
- Drake Bell: The Nickelodeon star was arrested for DUI on December 21, 2015, serving a brief jail sentence.
This startling trend highlights a stark contrast to the typical festive narrative, proving that even amidst the season of goodwill, the law shows no favour to fame or fortune.
