Child Actors Who Turned To Crime As Adults

The life of a child actor might seem like a dream come true. They have fame, fortune, and way more interesting summer vacations than other kids their age. But the transition from younger years marked by superstardom into adulthood can be difficult. Fame can fade, and Hollywood is a difficult place to succeed. Perhaps it's not surprising that there are some former child actors who committed crimes as they got older.

Sometimes, these former stars who broke the law struggled with drug and alcohol problems brought on by their unconventional upbringing in the spotlight. At other times, their criminal records seemed to stem from deep-seated mental illness. True, a few of these celebs may have gotten off easy compared to everyday members of the public. But the fact they all sat for mug shots and were charged with crimes proves that even celebrity kids turned criminals can’t escape the law.

Amanda Bynes was the breakout star of Nickelodeon's All That, and she went on to star in a string of successful teen movies and television series. Her driving troubles started in 2012, when Bynes was pulled over by police for talking on a cell phone. She drove off before she was given a ticket. Over the course of the next few months, Bynes was arrested for several DUIs, two alleged hit and runs, and other charges of reckless driving. The seven driving offenses led to her getting her license suspended and being put on probation for three years.

Famous for playing Danny Partridge on The Partridge Family, Danny Bonaduce ran into a number of legal problems in the 1990s. He was arrested on March 31, 1991, in Phoenix, AZ, for violently beating and robbing Darius Barney. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges related to violence against the prostitute, and was ordered to pay the costs of Barney’s medical bills and face a lengthy period of probation.

Dustin Diamond is best known for his role as Screech in Saved by the Bell. He has been sued several times over the years for delinquent taxes, but his biggest run-in with the law came after a bar fight in 2014. Allegedly, the actor pulled a switchblade out and stabbed another man during the confrontation. He was later found guilty of two charges related to the incident, but was acquitted of the more serious felony accusation. After admitting to stabbing the man accidentally, Diamond was sentenced him to four months in jail and 15 months of probation.

Since appearing in Terminator 2: Judgement Day as a 14-year-old, the life of Edward Furlong has not been as rosy as he might have liked. He has been involved in a number of domestic violence disputes with his girlfriends. Claims by several partners stated that he had been aggressive in their relationships, and he was arrested for "using force" against Monica Keena in May 2013. Both Keena and his former wife, Rachael Kneeland, have protective orders against Furlong.

Furlong has blamed these incidents largely on his battle with drug addiction. According to the actor, he was both a heroin and cocaine addict.

Lillo Brancato Jr. had roles in shows including The Sopranos. He was arrested in 2005 following a shootout with an off-duty police officer, who had confronted him and another man attempting to enter a vacant house. During the shooting, police officer Daniel Enchategui was killed, and both assailants were critically wounded.

Following a lengthy trial, Brancato, Jr. was acquitted of the murder of the officer, but was found guilty of first-degree attempted burglary and given a jail sentence of 10 years.

Lindsay Lohan skyrocketed to fame with the release of The Parent Trap, but has publicly struggled with alcohol and drug abuse as she's matured. Since May of 2007, she has been involved in a number of traffic accidents. On several occasions, she was driving under the influence or had drugs in her car. Lohan later released a statement to MTV News, stating, "It is clear to me that my life has become completely unmanageable because I am addicted to alcohol and drugs.”

Lohan checked into rehab several times, but continued to have run-ins with the law. She's had short stays in prison as well.

Macaulay Culkin is best known as the mischievous Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. In 2004, police pulled over a car in which Culkin was a passenger. During the stop, they found a number of controlled substances in his possession, including marijuana and Xanax. The actor was arrested and jailed for a short time before he was released on bail.

Although Culkin initially pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him at trial in 2005, he later changed his plea to guilty. The judge gave him a one-year deferred sentence and ordered him to pay just over $500 in fees and fines.

Shia LaBeouf was a successful child actor on the Disney Channel, and his fame didn't fade once he grew up: he appeared in major films like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Transformers. However, he has also been involved in a number of violent incidents. In 2005, the actor get into a confrontation with a neighbor; LaBeouf allegedly rammed his car into another vehicle while he was waiting to gain access to his garage. A few hours later, another fight broke out between the pair - LaBeouf went to his neighbor’s house with a kitchen knife to threaten him.

In January of 2017, the actor was arrested at an anti-Trump rally in New York City. He was charged with misdemeanor assault and a harassment violation. 

Winona Ryder was the "it" girl of the late '80s and early '90s, starring in favorites like Beetlejuice and Heathers. Her career showed no signs of slowing down, but in 2001, Ryder was arrested after she was accused of stealing more than $5,000 worth of designer goods from a department store in Beverly Hills. After being discovered by security, she was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department.

In 2002, the prosecution brought a number of charges against Ryder, including shoplifting, grand theft, and vandalism, and accused her of using restricted drugs without a prescription. The jury found her guilty of several of the charges, leading to judge to sentence her to 480 hours of community service, thousands of dollars in fines and restitution, and three years probation. Ryder later claimed that the incident was the result of depression and a dependency on painkillers that she was taking due to a broken arm.

Skylar Deleon was a child actor who appeared in a number of commercials, as well as shows like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Her acting career fizzled, but she made headlines in 2008 when she was convicted of killing an Arizona couple, Tom and Jackie Hawks.

In 2004, Deleon faked interest in buying the couple's yacht, and went out on the boat with them for a test ride. She then tied up the Hawkses and flung them overboard, tied to the yacht’s anchor. Deleon's aim was to steal the ship and the couple’s life savings. Deleon was also convicted of killing another person, John Jarvi, in 2003. According to the prosecution, Deleon slit Jarvi's throat after conning him out of money in Mexico.

Deleon is currently on death row at San Quentin State Prison. After attempting to remove her penis with a razor blade, she came out as transgender. She says her motive for killing the Hawkses was to get the money for gender reassignment surgery.