On Monday, March 15, Charlie Sheen pleaded not guilty to the one felony charge and two misdemeanor charges leveled against him by the Aspen, Colorado district attorney’s office. The charges stem, of course, from the alleged, alcohol-soaked Christmas beating he gave wife Brooke Mueller. Officially, it was Charlie’s lawyer Richard Cummins who entered the not guilty plea on Charlie’s behalf. The trial won’t be until July.

In addition to that, Radar has word that Charlie has hired a new lawyer to represent him for this case. This guy, Steve Cochran, has a reputation as a celebrity heavy-hitter, and his other clients have included Britney Spears, Michael Jackson and Forest Whitaker, amongst others. Here’s more, from Radar:

With his freedom hanging in the balance, Charlie Sheen has hired a new, high-powered Los Angeles lawyer to help defend him in his domestic violence case, RadarOnline.com has learned exclusively.

Sheen hired Steve Cochran, a well-known L.A. criminal defense lawyer who has worked on many high-profile cases including defending Michael Jackson. RadarOnline.com learned that Sheen wanted more firepower in the courtroom. Richard Cummins has been Sheen’s lead attorney until now.

Cochran will be admitted pro hac vice to assist in Sheen’s defense Monday. Pro hac vice is a term used “for the moment” that allows a lawyer to practice in another jurisdiction.
It is unclear if Cummins will remain as the lead attorney but sources tell RadarOnline.com that Team Sheen believed they needed a “more high powered” attorney on the case for the Two and a Half Men actor.

Cochran left Jackson’s defense team in 2004 for unspecified reasons. Thomas Mesereau Jr. continued to represent Michael, who was acquitted. Cochran represented Jackson on many matters, including in 1993 when the singer was accused of child molestation. He has also represented Sheen previously, Britney Spears, Forest Whitaker and other tops stars.

Colorado has been cracking down on domestic violence cases and as RadarOnline.com reported Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin will not accept a plea bargain from Sheen that does not include a felony charge. Sheen will not plead to a felony but would be willing to make a deal pleading to misdemeanors in exchange for no jail time, sources told RadarOnline.com.

But with both sides at a stalemate the court action gets underway on Monday with Sheen’s arraignment. The actor will face jail time if convicted. RadarOnline.com learned exclusively he will contend that the violence and threats never occurred and that his wife’s drug problems make her words unbelievable.

Sheen, who has returned to work on his TV series, had been in rehab for several weeks because he had started drinking alcohol again and using cocaine.

Brooke Mueller recently went into rehab, is addicted to crack and is an alcoholic. She has been in rehab more than five times over the years, RadarOnline.com learned. Mueller does not want to cooperate with prosecutors. Her 911 call will be a key piece of the the prosecution case but the defense will counter by saying she was drunk at 8:30 in the morning and also on crack.

[From Radar]

To me it seems like Charlie is really serious about not going to jail and not being forced into some kind of alcohol or domestic violence program. And you know what? If he’s got the money for these big-time lawyers, chances are the lawyers will drown the local, civil servant district attorney’s office in paperwork. I don’t think Charlie is going to jail. I don’t think Charlie is going to be forced into going into any kind of program. I think Charlie is back to drinking, doing coke, and bangin’ hookers, and that’s what he intends to keep doing. Just my theory!

Charlie in Aspen on March 15, 2010. Credit: INFphoto.com

The NYDN’s Rush & Malloy got the strangest interview with Courtney Love over the weekend. It’s strange, first of all, because she sounds so coherent. Secondly, it’s weird because she’s talking about how her daughter, Frances “The Bean” abused her (rather then the other way around) and how Courtney has reconciled friendship-wise with Edward Norton. Oh, and the third weird thing: Courtney might be dating Uma Thurman’s ex, hotelier Andre Balazs…? What the hell? The stuff about Frances-on-Courtney violence is a sad story, but the stuff about Ed Norton is funny/interesting. Something about how Courtney’s cracked out delusions made her think that Norton had lost $300,000 of Courtney’s money when really he tripled her investment. How could Courtney not remember that?

Courtney Love may finally be on the cusp of happiness. With her first album in 10 years already looking like a hit, the Hole singer is closer to a reunion with daughter Frances, has made peace with old beau Edward Norton and may have a new beau lined up.

Let’s get to that last part first. The Love missile has been spending an awful lot of time lately with Andre Balazs, according to spies. The dashing hotelier, ex-husband of modeling czarina Katie Ford and ex-boyfriend of Uma Thurman, was seen with Love last week at the Mercer and the Minetta Tavern.

Love insists Balazs is just “an old friend and my sometime landlord.” Our spies say the friends looked like they should get a hotel room, which Balazs has plenty of.

Meanwhile, Love has been making nice with Norton. A few weeks ago, she went on Twitter to blame him for her allegedly losing $300,000 in a fund he told her to invest in. But Love has now tweeted that she was “wrong” and that he actually tripled her money.

“I feel very bad,” Love tells us. “I have the greatest respect for Edward. He could be the President of the United States. I could be his drug czar - ha, ha.”

Love says Norton also has been a “force of good” in serving as an informal communicator and mediator between her and 17-year-old Frances, whom a restraining order bars Love from speaking to. (A friend of Norton’s insists that his role in the drama has been minimal.)

Mother and daughter fell out last October after a donnybrook at their Tribeca apartment.

“I was talking on the phone,” recalls Love. “Frances came out of my room. She was hysterical. First she was crying at my legs, saying, ‘Why was I born?’ Then she bites and scratches and pulls on my hair. She punched me.”

A source who says she witnessed the confrontation corroborates that Love “never hit Frances. Not one time. All the punches were coming from Frances.”

Love says, “I grabbed her with both arms. That left a bruise and she took a picture of her bruise.”

By December, a judge had taken Frances away from Love and placed her in the care of the mother and sister of her father, rock god Kurt Cobain, who took his own life in 1994.
Love finds it “creepy” that Frances should be represented by Geraldine Wyle, who is also the attorney for Britney Spears’ father, Jamie, in Brit’s guardianship case. Love suspects Jamie convinced Wyle to retaliate against Love after Love claimed that a female member of the Spears family had told her Jamie had molested her. Wyle and a rep for Jamie both declined to comment.

“Geraldine told Frances all this pie-in-the-sky b.s. - that she’d get all this money,” charges Love, who at the same time understands her daughter’s confusion. “Look who her parents are! We were a little lax.”

Love has heard that, after two months away from Mom, Frances has told California child services “she wants to come home.” She tearfully adds, “I should have never gotten mad at her. I love her so much.”

Love believes “we’ll be back together” no later than August, when Frances turns 18 and becomes a legal adult.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for April 8. On April 27, Mercury releases Hole’s record “Nobody’s Daughter.” The first single, “Skinny Little Bitch,” was the most-added song on rock radio last week.

Love shrugs off ex-flame Billy Corgan’s threat to make trouble if she tries to release two songs they collaborated on: “Billy is talking out his a-. His people already gave permission.”

And word is director Bennett Miller is considering the “People vs Larry Flynt” actress for a part in “Moneyball,” co-starring Brad Pitt.

“Who gets a second shot at 45?” asks Love. “I’m a lucky bitch.”

[From Rush & Malloy]

Yes, Courtney is a “lucky bitch” much in the same way Lindsay Lohan is a “lucky bitch”. They’re both lucky to be standing relatively upright after consuming a massive amount of drugs. As far as the claims that Frances abused Courtney… what do you think? I don’t really know who to believe or how I really think this sh-t went down. My gut tells me that Courtney isn’t the kind of person to smack around her daughter. But when I ask myself if I think Courtney is capable of violence, my answer is a definite “yes”. On the other side, I do think Frances is a screwed up kid, and she probably blames her mother (correctly) for a lot of her problems. I really have no idea.

Courtney Love on February 28, 2010. Credit: WENN.

Chris Brown is no longer on Twitter, but he’s still online and is trying to rally his fans for support. Brown is promising everyone that he’s changed and says it’s time that radio stations started playing his music again. The convicted batterer recorded a message on his SayNow page asking that his fans help him get airplay. This is the same guy who told the music industry to kiss his ass. Now that they’re doing that, he realizes that his “fantasy factory” won’t run on wishes alone.

“I ain’t never really did this but right now I need all of my fans help. A lot of radio stations aren’t playing my records. They are not being that supportive and I wouldn’t expect them to. It’s on the fans and what you guys do in your power to bring me back. That’s all I need is you guys and nothing else will do that except for the fans. I don’t know what else to say. It’s nothing else that I can do. I’m doing everything that I need to do. I’m doing me as a person and I’m a better guy. It’s on ya’ll. My singing and my music I do it for you guys and everything else but it won’t be possible if I’m not relevant on the radio and it wouldn’t be possible for me to be an artist if I don’t have the support. I can’t be an underground mixtape artist. That’s where we are. I just want all my fans to help me. I love ya’ll. Peace”.

[Transcript thanks to Bossip]

I was all ready to roll my eyes and say the kid doesn’t deserve a chance - I still don’t think he does - but his message sounded sincere to me. Kaiser and many of you are sure to take me to task for saying that, but I think the kid just really yearns for the level of success he had before he choked, bit and punched the living daylights out of his famous girlfriend. I doubt that’s every going to happen for him, and rightfully so. He’s complying with the terms of his probation and has been praised by a judge for keeping up with his community service requirements. That’s something. He still pissed away more opportunities than most of us will see in a lifetime. He treated the woman he supposedly loved like a punching bag and left her there for dead. He can plead all he wants but he did this to himself. He’s still got fans, though, and some are likely to heed his pathetic call for help.

Jezebel lets us know that this week’s In Touch claims that Charlie Sheen is back to his old tricks. The 44 year-old actor, one of the highest paid on television, has been romping with a $2,500 a night hooker, doing drugs and giving her his ATM card. Here’s Jezebel’s recap:

Charlie Sheen has been sleeping with a prostitute who charges $2500 a night. And he hasn’t been discreet: Once he gave her his ATM and PIN; once he wrote a check to cash. He likes to snort cocaine and have sex with her for hours. Allegedly.

[From Jezebel]

Charlie is set to go back to work on the set of Two and A Half Men, having delayed production while he attended rehab for the sake of his image. Radar reports that he has a new legal strategy for defending himself against the domestic violence charges still pending in Colorado - he’s going to try to make it seem like Brooke made it all up because she was too wasted to know better. A source tells Radar “We’re not talking about someone who had a few drinks. We’re talking about someone who was wasted at 8 in the morning and who smoked crack. That’s going to kill her credibility and Charlie knows it and he’s going to use it.”

We’ve heard way too many details about Brooke’s alleged addictions to alcohol and crack for them to have come from anywhere but Charlie’s camp. I think he’s been defaming her to the press in an attempt to make it seem like he’s the wronged party, when all the details point to him holding a knife to Brooke’s throat and threatening to kill her. He did the same thing to his last wife, Denise Richards, and there’s another ex girlfriend who approached the Colorado prosecutor and volunteered to testify that he assaulted her in 1996. Charlie also “accidentally” shot his then-fiance, Kelly Preston, in the arm in 1990. I don’t doubt that Brooke was probably wasted during the incident or that she has a problem with addiction, but that doesn’t mean her husband should escape the consequences for abusing her.

Brooke is supposedly not cooperating with prosecutors and can you blame her? Charlie probably told her he’d take a hit out on her and make it look like an accident, just like he did to Denise. I bet he treats that $2,500 a night hooker better than he treats Brooke. This is one man who never should have gotten married or had kids that he is in any way responsible for.

Of all of the rumors, speculations and genuine reporting done regarding the whole Charlie Sheen-Brooke Mueller marriage, one point consistently interests me: just when was Brooke doing drugs and/or drinking? Was it during her pregnancy to twins Max and Bob? Radar’s sources have consistently said, yes, she was doing crack during her pregnancy. Us Weekly’s sources are saying something different in this week’s issue. They claim that Brooke relapsed right after giving birth, because “she went back to her comfort zone…she resorted to the way she handled stress in the past.” This is, like, days after giving birth. Was she nursing?

What went wrong in the Sheen household?

As both Charlie Sheen and his wife Brooke seek treatment for their addictions, insiders talk in the new issue of Us Weekly about the pair, who have been in the headlines since the Christmas Day incident when the Two and a Half Men actor threatened to kill his wife.

After checking out of Malibu’s The Canyon rehab facility last month, Brooke Sheen, 32, is being treated at home for addictions to alcohol and drugs — including crack cocaine, sources have confirmed to Us. Sheen, meanwhile, checked into rehab last week for “preventative measures,” according to sources.

At home with Brooke? Her 12-month-old twin sons, Bob and Max. A family friend says that Brooke’s relapse to drugs began shortly after the twins’ birth. Born severely underweight, young Max was hospitalized for weeks. “It was a really scary situation for a new mom — for any new mom — and at that point she went back to her comfort zone…she resorted to the way she handled stress in the past.”

Meanwhile, 44-year-old Charlie — who spent time in rehab in 1998 — has “slipped” back into drinking, a friend says. “He’s been depressed, drawing the shades and watching TV by himself,” the pal says. “His idea of sobriety is ’slipping’ less than twice a month.”

And the couple, married for about two years, “stir up each other’s worst demons,” a friend says. They break out in fights over something small or some little paranoia.”

“One time, Brooke threw a Kleenex box at him because he looked at her the wrong way,” a source recalls. “He went crazy and threw an expensive plate. It was nuts!”

To read more about the Sheen family’s drama, how the twins are coping and what’s next for the pair, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands today.

[From Us Weekly]

A few days ago, I saw on E! News that the paparazzi had tracked down Martin Sheen while he was out and about in LA, and they were asking him questions about Charlie. Martin was basically like, ‘Don’t bother me, I’m going through enough stuff as is without worrying about talking to the press.’ I’ve got to wonder what Martin really thinks about Charlie’s relapse, though. Tough love? Or just “tough”? The while thing about Charlie’s “idea of sobriety is ’slipping’ less than twice a month” is particularly bothersome.

Meanwhile, Radar is reporting that one of Charlie’s ex-girlfriends has contacted the Colorado prosecutor and offered to testify about Charlie’s abusive nature. The girl’s name is Brittany Ashland, and apparently she dated Charlie in 1996 and Charlie’s assault of her in 1996 is one of the lines on Charlie’s rap sheet. According to Radar, “Ashland claimed that Sheen grabbed her by the hair and slammed her, face first, into a marble floor, knocking her unconscious. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery with serious injury charges and Ashland also filed a civil suit against him. [T]he district attorney wants to interview Sheen’s ex-girlfriends Ashland and Kelly Preston, as well as ex-wife Denise Richards and question them about violence they suffered from the actor. Sources tell RadarOnline.com that no interviews have taken place yet, but could ‘occur closer to trial’.” Charlie’s preliminary court date is in a few weeks. We’ll see.

Back on Monday, Radar put out a report saying that friends of Lindsay Lohan were claiming that she told them that Samantha Ronson abused her. According to this web of whispers, “Lindsay told me that Sam beat the sh-t out of her. She also said that Sam even punched and choked her one time.” Personally, I had a hard time believing it. The abuse, I mean. I sort-of believed that Lindsay might have accused Sam of abusing her while Lindsay was being cracked-out or something. In any case, Lindsay has taken to her crack tweets to deny ever saying that Sam Ronson ever abused her or “ever raised a hand to me.” Sam Ronson responded to Lindsay’s crack tweet with her thanks: “The high road was giving me a nose bleed!”

Lindsay Lohan and on-off girlfriend Samantha Ronson are finally agreeing on one thing: The celeb DJ never abused the actress.

Lohan, 23, is shooting down RadarOnline’s recent report that she’s been telling pals that Ronson, 32, beat, punched and choked her.

“This is become a bit much,” she writes on Twitter. “Samantha R never raised a hand to me. I’ve never said she did. Enough is Enough. Focus on more important world issues.”

Ronson replied thanking Lohan for “clearing that up. The high road was giving me a nose bleed! ;).” She then added, “To ANYONE who perpetuates this rumour accusing me of being violently abusive after @lindsaylohan has denied it: I WILL take legal action.”

But things are hardly rosy between the two.

On Feb. 3, the former couple, who first began dating in 2008, had a showdown at the Tea Room at H. Wood in L.A.

“Lindsay started screaming and throwing cigarettes at Sam while she was deejaying,” a witness tells UsMagazine.com. “Sam ripped her laptop out of the wall and left.”

[From Us Weekly]

I believe Sam Ronson would take legal action, so let me make it clear: I never believed Sam was abusive. Perhaps Sam was Lindsay’s enabler at one point, but I think Sam has pretty much cut her losses now. What I would be interested in hearing, though, is either Lindsay or Sam’s response to the Radar report that Lindsay threw a drink in Sam’s face after Sam called Lindsay‘s drunken, drugged-out shenanigans “a disgrace.” Hm? Where’s that denial?

Last Friday, Radar had a very interesting report about Lindsay Lohan and her ex-lover Samantha Ronson being in the same club at the same time at one point last week. While Sam was deejaying, Lindsay was obsessively trying to get Sam’s attention, downing drinks and pills, and dancing with other girls. Sam allegedly called Lindsay a “disgrace” and Lindsay furthered the drama by allegedly throwing a drink in Sam’s face. Today, Radar has another report about the situation, only this one is slanted more anti-Ronson. According to Radar’s sources, Lindsay has been claiming to friends that Sam “beat the sh-t” out of her and once “punched and choked” her. Um… really?

Lindsay Lohan’s relationship with ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson has turned violent, a source close to both of them told RadarOnline.com exclusively.

Although Lindsay appeared to have moved on from her tumultuous relationship with girlfriend Ronson, the two have been spotted out at the same clubs recently and as RadarOnline.com exclusively reported they fought so badly one night that Lindsay threw a drink in Sam’s face.

“One time I saw her [Lindsay] and she had a large welt on her head,” the source told RadarOnline.com. “She told me that Sam beat the (bleep) out of her. She also said that Sam even punched and choked her one time.”

Making things worse is the fact that both women live in the same building.

Following the break-in at her Hollywood Hills home, Lindsay moved into an apartment in West Hollywood. Shortly after, Samantha moved in. The source tells RadarOnline.com that Ronson regularly comes over using a key she has to Lindsay’s apartment.

“It’s so twisted. They’re not together, but they are,” said the source. “I never thought I’d ever say this, but I really do feel sorry for Lindsay. She is just lost. She’s alone. She has no friends to turn to.”

Lindsay’s father Michael Lohan has repeatedly expressed concern that Lindsay’s behavior is being negatively effected by the prescription drugs she’s taking and that she is taking too many.

[From Radar]

Okay, here’s the thing: while I’ll buy that Lindsay’s friends might be repeating some crap they’ve heard from Lindsay, I don’t think Lindsay is telling the truth. I seriously, seriously doubt Sam ever hit Lindsay or choked her or beat her. Considering Lindsay’s history as a cracked-out liar, and her history of self-abuse and abusing others, the only thing I’ll buy is that Sam Ronson has perhaps physically restrained Lindsay from harming herself or others. Or am I totally off base? Does Sam seem like the kind of girl who would abuse her girlfriend?

Lindsay in LA on February 4, 2010. Credit: David Tonnessen, PacificCoastNews.com. Sam in LA on January 29, 2010. Credit: Josephine Santos, PacificCoastNews.com. Sam & Lindsay on July 30, 2009. Credit: WENN.

The National Enquirer is still hellbent on winning a Pulitzer for their over-the-top coverage of the Edwards saga. This week’s story involves the “last straw” fight that ended their marriage, and Elizabeth Edwards’ confession (to friends) that John “beat” her. Once I read the story, I could see how this incident may have been possible, and God knows it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if John Edwards was smarmy enough to beat women. And yet… there is a whiff of bullsh-t in this story. Here’s the Enquirer’s version:

Cancer-stricken Elizabeth Edwards is telling pals that John beat her during a horrific marriage-ending fight, The ENQUIRER has learned exclusively.

“John lost his temper big-time,” revealed a close friend of Elizabeth. “She has the divorce papers drawn up, but she can amend them to charge John with domestic violence. She’s holding that over his head right now - and he’s scared. Elizabeth is in control.”

Elizabeth privately disclosed all the shocking details of the alleged attack, says a close friend. The friend spoke in detail about the terrifying incident - and passed a lie detector test regarding the shocking fight.

“John beat me,” Elizabeth had told the friend. Other sources confirm that the couple’s furious confrontation was the “final straw” in 60-year-old Elizabeth’s decision to end their 32-year marriage.

The disgraced politician has amassed a long and shameful history of denying The ENQUIRER’s stories about his cheating and his love child. But on Jan. 21, the former presidential candidate finally admitted paternity of his 2-year-old daughter Frances by mistress Rielle Hunter, and a distraught Elizabeth confirmed that the couple had officially separated.

The alleged beating ended any hope that the Edwards marriage could continue. The friend reveals Elizabeth said: “When he (John) made the decision to hit me, it was over.”

John did not respond when The Enquirer asked him to comment on the allegation he beat his wife. Another source revealed: “Elizabeth has slapped John in the past during fights over his extramarital affair with Rielle. She was so tormented by John’s cheating and lies that she lashed out physically at him many times, even slapping him. On a couple of occasions, when the fights became heated, she grabbed him by the shoulders and screamed, ‘Why, why, why?!’”

“Elizabeth would break down in tears and try to make John explain why he was throwing his family and political life away. During one of the confrontations, Elizabeth grabbed his arms and shook him so hard that John had to restrain her.”

But the fighting escalated - and the ugly incident that “happened around the Christmas holidays turned out to be a violent, marriage-ending fight,” said another source.

For the full shocking story you won’t find anywhere else pick up the latest Enquirer now!

PLUS: learn the real reason cops remain silent after their midnight visit to the Edwardses mansion!

[From The National Enquirer]

Maybe the whiff of bullsh-t is the claim that Elizabeth is going to use a domestic violence claim in her divorce? Does that seem realistic? I mean, either he hit her or he didn’t. Either she called the cops or she didn’t. Either say you were abused, or don’t. I don’t get this whole “I’m going to wait to say he beat me for the divorce negotiations” stuff.

In other Edwards-related news, that rumor about the sex tape is pretty much verified. Allegedly, the tape is of John Edwards having sex with Rielle Hunter when she was pregnant with daughter Frances. Andrew Young “stole” the tape from Rielle (probably when he was pretending to be the baby-daddy) and is now trying to release the tape as cross-promotion for his tell-all book. Yikes, yikes and yikes.

Less than two weeks ago, Dennis Hopper filed for divorce from his wife of 14 years, Victoria. Then all hell broke loose, mainly because it’s generally established that Dennis Hopper is on his deathbed, and will not be alive for very much longer, and is likely heavily medicated. So how, perchance, did he decide to file for divorce? One theory is that his oldest daughter basically forced her father into the lawyer’s office and made him file the papers.

Anyway, Victoria filed a petition in response to the divorce filing. The peition was obtained by The Daily Beast, amongst other media outlets, and Victoria is alleging some pretty serious stuff about Hopper. Allegedly, Hopper used to keep loaded guns around the house (he and Victoria have a six-year-old daughter), and Hopper used to threaten to kill Victoria. Oh, yes. This sh-t it going to get even nastier:

“In 2009,” the declaration reads, “I discovered a pistol with multiple rounds of ammunition in Petitioner’s bedroom drawer. The gun and ammunition was unsecure and easily accessible, including to Galen [Victoria and Dennis' six year old daughter]. I also located a loaded shotgun, unsecure, in our bedroom closet. I told Petitioner to remove the guns from our home. Petitioner agreed. I immediately moved the guns to a secure temporary location and later had them removed by a police officer.”

This followed another incident in which she claims Hopper told her that if she divorced him, “Something bad is going to happen to you and you won’t see it coming.”

In addition to the threats, Victoria claims that the whole marriage dissolution is not Hopper’s desire at all, but rather “a result of estate planning by other family members” who presumably want her cut off financially. Hopper, she says, told her “he does not want to divorce” and “that other people are insisting he take care of them upon his death.”

Victoria calls out one of these family members specifically several times in the document: Hopper’s 47-year-old daughter, Marin, who has been living in a wing of her father’s Venice compound for more than two years.

Financially, Victoria claims she needs Hopper’s support. “While I have attempted to work at various careers throughout our marriage, Petitioner has discouraged and prevented me from doing so.” She says she signed their jointly filed 2008 tax return and that their total income was stated as over $1.2 million, and that Hopper has a $1 million life insurance policy. She wants the court to order that she and Galen be named as equal beneficiaries of that policy. “Based on Petitioner’s statements to me that he will leave me destitute and because I do not have a steady or significant source of income, I fear I will be unable to financially provide for our six year old daughter and myself.”

She also charges that Hopper is a habitual pot smoker and got high in front of their child.

“Petitioner has in recent months used marijuana in Galen’s presence. I request the Court order Petitioner to refrain from use of marijuana and any nonprescription drugs 12 hours before and during any time he spends with Galen.”

[The filing also says] that as his illness worsened, the marriage began to fray, in part because he became so cruel to his wife. “Dennis has misdirected all his rage and fear onto Victoria,” is how one close friend of the couple puts it. Says another: “He’s angry about his health and he’s taking it out on her.”

[From The Daily Beast]

The Daily Beast piece goes on to insinuate that Victoria may have had an affair while she was working on Obama’s campaign in 2008, describing “a man whom Victoria grew close to during the election…who listened to her and was encouraging of her having a career.” Hmm… well, I’m prepared to believe that Hopper is a son of a bitch, and that he likes guns, and that he’s violent, and that he uses money to control people. But that still doesn’t answer all of the questions I have about Dennis and Victoria’s marriage, or about this family in general.

Oh, and who is really surprised that Hopper smokes pot? It would shock me more if he had spent the last decade not inhaling substances.

The possibly estranged wife of Charlie Sheen, Brooke Mueller, has been discharged from an L.A. hospital after being treated for pneumonia brought on by an oral infection. Mueller’s mom told E! News that she is hoping to take Brooke to a spa where she can recuperate in privacy and rebuild her immune system. Hopefully there is a spa somewhere that can build up Mueller’s immunity to her scary husband.

Brooke Mueller is one step closer to reunion and reconciliation.

E! News confirms that Charlie Sheen’s 32-year-old wife was released from the Los Angeles hospital where she spent most of last week in ICU for pneumonia in both of her lungs.

The embattled couple will return to an Aspen courtroom on Feb. 8 to try to have the state-mandated order of protection stemming from their Christmas Day debacle lifted.

In the meantime, Brooke is jetting off to an undisclosed spa for a little time off, her mother, Moira Fiore, tells E! News.

“Brooke is going to get some rest and relaxation,” she says. “We’re hoping to go to a spa, if she doesn’t get scared off.”

Fiore kept a tight lip about their actual destination, though.

“We’re going somewhere; I don’t want to say where right now. I don’t want a lot of people there,” she says.

Mueller contracted pneumonia due to an oral infection from having a wisdom tooth extracted.

While she continues the recuperation process, the couple’s twin boys are staying with their famous father.

In the meantime, Charlie’s ex-wife Denise Richards is on Oprah today talking about her relationship with the actor and father of her two daughters.

[From E!Online]

Here’s a question - why is Brooke’s mother talking to the press at all? It’s not going to be tough for tabloid reporters to track her movements now - sure, there are a lot of spas in the world but there are only a few really high-end ones that cater to celebrities. It’s fine that Brooke is focused on getting better and getting some rest, but I don’t think a massage and a pedicure are going to help solve her dilemma. Instead, perhaps her mom should be getting her some counseling and into a support system for women in abusive relationships. It still makes me ill to think that Charlie Sheen will probably walk out of this whole situation smelling like a rose, free to be a big bully once again, while Brooke is trying to repair her reputation and regain her health. It doesn’t seem very fair.

UPDATE (by Kaiser): Entertainment Tonight is now reporting that Brooke is in rehab, not a “spa”. Good for her. Maybe the third, fourth or fifth time will be the charm.

UPDATE #2: Or not. TMZ says she’s not in rehab. Whatever. At this point, I don’t even care.