Texas actress Shannon Guess Richardson, who is accused of mailing ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors, according to federal court documents.
Shannon Guess Richardson, 36, whose acting career included minor television roles, had attempted to blame her husband for sending the letters in May that tested positive for the presence of ricin, according to prosecutors.
Notice of the plea deal was filed on Thursday in US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Shannon Guess Richardson is accused of mailing ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Shannon Guess Richardson was arrested in June and a federal grand jury accused her in a three-count indictment of mailing the letters to Barack Obama, Michael Bloomberg and Mark Glaze, the director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group founded by Bloomberg that lobbies for stricter gun laws.
Ricin, a highly toxic substance, is found naturally in castor beans, but it takes a deliberate act to make ricin and use it to poison people, according to the CDC. Exposure to even a small amount can cause death and no known antidote exists.
Shannon Guess Richardson is charged with one count of making a threat against the president of the US and two counts of mailing threatening communications. She faces up to five years in prison on each count if convicted.
According to court documents, the letters read, in part: “You will have to kill me and my family before you get my guns. Anyone wants to come to my house will get shot in the face.”
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Stephen Baldwin has avoided a jail sentence after admitting income tax evasion in Rockland County Court.
Actor Stephen Baldwin, 46, admitted failing to pay New York state income taxes for 2008, 2009 and 2010.
A plea bargain was reached to enable Stephen Baldwin’s record to be wiped clean if he pays back $300,000 within a year.
Failure to pay within that time will result in a five-year sentence of probation.
Stephen Baldwin has avoided a jail sentence after admitting income tax evasion
Such a sentence would require the actor to complete five years under supervision and following certain conditions.
The full repayment would be expected to be made during that probation period.
Stephen Baldwin’s total bill including taxes, interest and penalties is $400,000 but state Supreme Court Justice Charles Apotheker said $100,000 had already been paid.
The star said he never intended to avoid paying taxes and got into trouble by trusting others.
“Unfortunately, I got some really bad suggestions and advice … from lawyers and accountants,” Stephen Baldwin said outside court.
“I just look forward to getting the $300,000 paid in the next year,” he added.
Stephen Baldwin is the youngest brother of the Baldwin acting dynasty which includes Alec, William and Daniel.
Married with two daughters, Stephen Baldwin became a born-again Christian following the terror attacks on September 11, 2001.
His early career included roles in acclaimed films such as Last Exit to Brooklyn and Born on the Fourth of July.
More recently Stephen Baldwin has appeared in a number of TV reality shows including the US version of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here in 2009 and Britain’s Celebrity Big Brother in 2010.
Stephen Baldwin is currently appearing in All-Star Celebrity Apprentice and also co-hosts a US radio show with conservative pundit Kevin McCullough.
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Bobby Brown, the troubled ex-husband of late singer Whitney Houston, has avoided jail for DUI after making a plea bargain with prosecutors.
Bobby Brown, 43, pleaded no-contest to a charge of driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.
In return prosecutors dropped a charge of driving under the influence, which would have carried a stiffer penalty.
According to TMZ, Bobby Brown was sentenced to 36 months of summary probation and one day in county jail, the latter of which he already served after his arrest.
In addition, the singer has to complete a 90-day alcohol program.
Bobby Brown was arrested last month in Los Angeles after cops noticed he was driving while talking on his cell phone.
And when he was pulled over, they said he strongly smelled of alcohol.
During his sobriety test Bobby Brown blew a 0.12 on a breathalyzer, which is legally drunk in California.
Bobby Brown has avoided jail for DUI after making a plea bargain with prosecutors
At the time, his lawyer, Tiffany Feder, said “everyone is innocent until proven guilty”, but did not deny he had been drinking.
After being arrested, Bobby Brown was taken to Van Nuys jail.
Officer Tiana Reed said: “We observed intoxication once Mr. Brown was pulled over.
“We put him through four sobriety tests, none of which he passed.
“He was arrested at 12:20 p.m. and booked into the Van Nuys jail.”
Bobby Brown already has a DUI conviction.
He was arrested in Georgia back in 1996.
Bobby Brown eventually pleaded guilty to DUI and served eight days in jail.
Meanwhile it has emerged Bobby Brown may be on the road to reconciling with his daughter Bobbi Kristina.
According to US Weekly, Bobby Brown and his daughter Bobbi Kristina spent some quality time together in New York on Tuesday.
A witness said Bobbi Kristina Brown had lunch with her father at upmarket restaurant Blue Fin, which sits in the heart of Times Square
They were joined by his longtime girlfriend Alicia Etheridge and three other friends.
But while their meal lasted around 90 minutes the bystander claims Bobbi Kristina “was on her phone and texting a crazy amount”.
“She didn’t seem too thrilled to be there, in all honesty,” the source said.
