Justin Bieber's lawyers are trying to persuade Los Angeles County prosecutors not to charge the singer with a felony in the alleged egg attack on a neighbor, sources close to the case told CNN Wednesday.
The potential
vandalism charge is what lawyers called a "wobbler," meaning the
district
attorney must decide if it will be prosecuted as a felony -- which has
much more serious consequences -- or as a misdemeanor.
Several sources close
to the investigation tell CNN there is little doubt Bieber will be charged with
vandalism for the January incident and a decision should be announced soon.
Bieber attorneys
Howard Weitzman and Shawn Holley met with prosecutors Tuesday to argue that
since the egging was "a silly prank" and Bieber has no criminal
record, it should be treated as a misdemeanor, two sources said.
Los Angeles County
Sheriff's Department detectives are pushing for a felony charge, based on the
estimated $20,000 in damage caused by the eggs to the mansion next door.
Justin's on
the move
Bieber, 20, sold his
Calabasas, California, mansion to Khloe Kardashian earlier this month and has
already moved his skateboard ramp, video games and fast cars from the home
where he's lived for the past two years, a source close to him confirmed.
Despite tabloid
speculation that Bieber planned to make Atlanta his new home, a source close to
him told CNN that would not happen. He spent most
of February in Atlanta, where he began his professional recording
career, but in recent weeks he has flown to Florida, Texas and Canada.
Bieber is now in
Toronto, where he is working on new music, according to his Twitter postings.
Hollywood's
toughest role: Parent of a young celebrity
He is scheduled to be tried on a
DUI charge in Miami on May 4. He also has an assault charge pending
in Toronto, related to an alleged attack on his limo driver.
None of the
criminal charges facing Bieber, including the expected vandalism
count, appear to threaten his freedom. Probation sentences, fines, community
service and counseling are routinely given in such cases.
How Lindsay
Lohan and Chris Brown could help Bieber
Bieber's Los Angeles
lawyers are experienced in keeping their celebrity clients out of jail,
although that can be a challenge if the client fails to comply with probation
requirements.
Attorney Shawn Holley
also represents actress Lindsay Lohan, who became the poster child for
probation violators after two drunken driving convictions. Lohan's career was
derailed by supervised probation, which was interrupted several times by trips
to jail and court-ordered rehab.
Singer Chris
Brown sits in a Los Angeles jail now because of repeated probation
violations stemming from his 2009 assault conviction for the beating of
then-girlfriend Rihanna. Brown's prospects for resuming his music career
anytime soon are dimmed by the requirement that he work on a highway cleanup
crew three days a week for eight months after he is released from jail.
Source:CNN
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