Controversial Publicist Found Dead
Publicist David Hans Schmidt, who plead guilty last month to attempting to extort Tom Cruise, was found dead of an apparent suicide in his Phoenix home on Friday.
Schmidt was under house arrest after agreeing to plead guilty to a $1 million extortion fiasco, using Tom Cruise's stolen wedding photos. According to the AP, authorities went to Schmidt's Phoenix home after a tracking device on him had not moved and he hadn't checked in, said police Lt. Anthony Lopez.
Schmidt is also known for an auction of Paris Hilton's diaries, and for representing Olympic scandal skater Tonya Harding and prostitute Divine Brown, who dallied with actor Hugh Grant. More recently, Schmidt said he was involved in Dustin "Screech" Diamond's nasty sex video. (TMZ.com)
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Michelle Rodriguez May Face Jail for Probation Violation
Michelle Rodriguez has failed to fulfill the terms of her probation in a DUI case and may face jail time, the Los Angeles City Attorney's office announced Friday.
"She hasn't shown proof of completion of her 30 days of community service," said City Attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan. "She could face jail time, but it's up to the judge."
The City Attorney's office alleges that Rodriguez turned in a false document showing that she completed one day of service on Sept. 25, court filings show. However, the actress later stated that she was in New York on that date.
Rodriguez, 29, had been serving an extended probation term for numerous driving infractions.
In May 2006, she served only four hours and 20 minutes (of a two-month sentence) at the Lynwood, Calif. jail for violating probation, stemming from a DUI arrest in Hawaii in December 2005.
She served, however, just over two days in a Honolulu jail in that case.
In June 2004, Rodriguez had been placed on three years' probation after pleading no contest to DUI and driving with a suspended license from two separate incidents in the Hollywood area in 2003. (People.com)
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Jay Leno selling 'Tonight Show's set to help Brooklyn kids
The 57-year-old funnyman is auctioning off the famous set of his late-night NBC show and donating the money to Bailey's Cafe, an after-school program at Paul Robeson High School.
Leno announced his plans on Monday, and called students in the program yesterday to assure them it's no gag.
"Have all your rich friends bid on the set," Leno said over a speaker phone that the kids crowded around in the school library. "Hopefully, we'll call a lot of attention to Bailey's Cafe and get a lot of people interested in it."
Leno is auctioning off his wooden desk and an Ultrasuede guest chair and matching couch that have cushioned the buns of celebrities ranging from Angelina Jolie and Oprah to Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood.
The set also includes a seldom-used ottoman, two cocktail tables and a chocolate brown wool area rug.
The eBay auction will run until Oct. 4. As of yesterday afternoon, bidding had reached $7,600.
"This is unbelievable," said James Beca, 18, a Paul Robeson senior who participates in the program. "I was shocked." (NYDailyNews.com)
YUCK 
