Mel Gibson Reaches Plea Deal in Domestic Violence Case

Mel Gibson has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in his domestic violence case, The Associated Press reports.
Gibson, 55, was expected to be formally charged this week for misdemeanor battery against ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, but instead will appear in court to enter the plea and will avoid jail time, a source close to the case told the AP.

Woman believed to be Gibson's ex-girlfriend: You hit our baby while she was in my hands

"I know from almost 20 years as a criminal defense lawyer that sometimes justice can come for a client at too high a personal price," Gibson's lawyer, Blair Berk, said in a statement Wednesday. "That is particularly so for Mel, whose right to due process can only be exercised in this case with an enormous media circus attached. Mel's priority throughout all of this has been that the best interests of his young daughter Lucia and the rest of his children be put first in any decisions made. It is with only that in mind that he asked me to approach the district attorney with a proposal that would bring all of this to an immediate end."Grigorieva accused Gibson of punching her in the head and face during an argument in January 2010. Gibson later said he did so to protect their baby daughter, Lucia, whom Grigorieva was holding.

Oksana Grigorieva: I thought Mel would kill me

The accusation was followed by leaked recordings of Gibson yelling racist and sexist remarks at Grigorieva during their custody battle. Gibson has also alleged that Grigorieva, 40, tried to extort him, but the Los Angeles district's attorney office did not say Wednesday if it plans to charge her.