July 2010 Archives

Mel Gibson has continued to make his own accusations against his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva's claims of domestic violence, formally filing a complaint of extortion with Sheriff's officials on Sunday. According to the Los Angeles Times, Gibson also provided evidence at that time to support his extortion accusations. Reportedly, Gibson was in possession of e-mails and text messages from Grigorieva that allegedly demonstrate extortion.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Grigorieva allegedly sought a multi-million dollar payout when the two broke up. Gibson claims that Grigorieva tried to extort him through threatening to make public accusations of domestic violence and the tapes that she secretly recorded of their heated arguments during the height of their custody dispute over their daughter. 

On Tuesday, an Orange County family court judge granted physical custody to Jesse James of his daughter, Sunny. Since he has physical custody, he also has permission from the court for parental relocation to Texas and permission to bring Sunny with him. The judge said that he based his decision on what would be in Sunny's best interest by considering the bond she has with her siblings that live with her father and the fact that she is currently doing well in her father's care.

Sunny's mom is James' ex-wife, ex-porn star Janine Lindemulder. Lindemulder has had drug problems and problems with the law and was recently released from a halfway house. The judge ruled that Lindemulder will have legal custody with child visitation rights, while James will have physical custody. Lindemulder will be able to see Sunny once a month in California and will share summer and holiday breaks with James. The judge ruled that Lindemulder was off drugs, but was still in a fragile state where she might make poor decisions.

An official with the Los Angeles County sheriff's department announced Wednesday that sheriff's detectives are expanding their investigation into whether Mel Gibson committed domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend, Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva. They are now looking into whether his ex-girlfriend tried to extort money from him in regards to the domestic violence allegations.

Grigorieva secretly recorded phone arguments between herself and Gibson while they were in the midst of a volatile break-up and custody dispute. The couple has an infant daughter and have been fighting for custody rights of the child. The secret recordings were involved in closed-door court hearings for the custody dispute. The tapes were also obtained by the website Radar Online and made public. On the tapes, Gibson can be heard using derogatory terms for women and racial slurs. He also seems to admit to hitting Grigorieva while she was holding their daughter.

The Orange County Register reports that a panel of appellate court judges ruled Tuesday that an Orange County woman can temporarily retain custody of her 2-year-old adoptive daughter, Vanessa. Stacey Doss of Rancho Santa Margarita began the process of adopting Vanessa soon after she was born in Ohio. The adoption process has not come to completion, however, because of paternity claims by Vanessa's biological father, Benjamin Mills, Jr. Both are now fighting for permanent custody of Vanessa, a contentious dispute that has gained national attention.  

When Doss began the adoption process, she was told by Vanessa's birth mother that she had become pregnant with Vanessa after a one-night stand. She had other children with Mills, but told Doss he was not the father of Vanessa. Later, genetic tests proved that Mills was the biological father. Vanessa's mother and Mills had a turbulent relationship, and Mills served 18 years in an Ohio prison for domestic violence. Mills has had his driver's license suspended for failure to pay child support.

A new tape obtained and made public by the website Radar Online purportedly features an argument that took place over the phone between Mel Gibson and his former girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva during which Gibson seems to admit to domestic violence. During the argument, Grigorieva asks Gibson what kind of man would hit the mother of his child in the face while she was holding their child, breaking her teeth. Gibson responds by yelling that she deserved it.

The former couple have an 8-month-old daughter. At the time of Grigorieva's taping of the arguments they were locked in a contentious child custody dispute over the infant. Gibson is currently under investigation for the domestic violence allegations by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff's officials say that they will consider the tapes as potential evidence in their investigation. At the conclusion of their investigation, they will turn their findings over to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, which will decide whether to pursue charges.

Actor Mel Gibson is under investigation by sheriff's officials for domestic violence. His ex-girlfriend, Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva, has accused Gibson of attacking her last January 6. The couple has been involved in a contentious custody dispute over their 8-month-old daughter.

TMZ obtained audio tapes that had been secretly recorded by Oksana during a fight between the couple. Gibson can be heard on the tape screaming obscenities and racist and sexist slurs. The tapes were made during the break-up and custody battle and before the couple reached their custody agreement through a mediator in May.