We look at celebrities as role models, but many famous people have been accused of horrible crimes. Some of these famous folks found themselves on the wrong side of the law when they were young, while others got into trouble later in life. This list of celebrities accused of horrible crimes has been loosely ranked by fame and popularity.
Who is the most famous person who has been accused of a horrible crime? Mean Girls actress Lindsay Lohan has quite a long rap sheet. She was charged with felony grand theft in 2011 and felony drug charges in 2007. She has spent time in the Los Angeles County Jail on three separate occasions. Snoop Dogg has been charged with drug possession five times. He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in 2006. He was also charged with murder in 1993, but he was acquitted in 1996.
Mark Wahlberg was charged with attempted murder in 1987 after he beat two different men, leaving one blind in one eye. He pleaded guilty to assault and served 45 days at Boston's Deer Island House of Correction. Rapper Tupac Shakur served 30 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a man with a baseball bat in 1993. He was also convicted of sexual battery in 1993, after a woman claimed that she was raped by Shakur and his entourage. He said that he was innocent and that he had consensual sex with the woman.
Are you surprised that so many famous people have been accused of horrible crimes? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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Bikram Choudhury
Famous for his series of 26 yoga moves, guru Bikram Choudhury was accused of sexual assault by six women from 2013 to 2015. The allegations range from sexual harassment and groping to rape. Each of the victims brought a civil suit against Choudhury after the Los Angeles district attorney refused to charge him for lack of evidence.
According to Choudhury's lawyers, "[the alleged victims'] claims are false and dishonor Bikram yoga and the health and spiritual benefits it has brought to the lives of millions of practitioners throughout the world." Celebs like Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, and George Clooney are among his fans.
Read more:
People, The New York Times
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby, the lovable comedian and TV star, faced numerous accusations from women, many of whom were seeking career guidance, who claimed that he drugged and sexually assaulted them. The allegations reach back to the 1970s, with many surfacing in 2014. Cosby denied the allegations and refused to answer questions from reporters on the topic. Among the women who have accused Cosby is supermodel Janice Dickinson.
Cosby, 77, has not been convicted (or even faced a judge) on any of the accusations, but his reputation has certainly suffered. Both Netflix and NBC postponed or cancelled projects with Cosby, and TV Land removed reruns of The Cosby Show from their lineup.
Source: CNN
Jian Ghomeshi
Canadian radio host Jian Ghomeshi was charged with four counts of sexual assault and overcoming resistance (choking) by Toronto police in 2014. This, after being accused of sexually abusive behavior in and out of the workplace by nine women over 12 years.
The former host of the arts and culture show Q surrendered to police in November, 2014.
Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson took a plea deal to avoid facing felony charges of battery in 2011. He has also been charged with DUIs on multiple occasions.
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Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson was charged with battery (1990), rape (1991), and assault (1998). He has also been arrested for driving while intoxicated and for being in possession of cocaine.
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Phil Rudd
11/6/2014: Phil Rudd, the drummer for legendary Australian rock band AC/DC, has been charged in New Zealand with attempting to hire a hitman to kill two people. Rudd's motive and the names of the men have not yet been released.
In a bizarre case of life imitating art, AC/DC fans are probably all collectively thinking back to the 1976 album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, the title track of which features a hitman offering his services to people in desperate situations.
Source: CNN
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg has been charged with drug possession five times. He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in 2006. He was also charged with murder in 1993, but was acquitted in 1996.
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Stephen Collins
October 2014: Stephen Collins, the man who played the pastor/completely trustworthy dad on the 90s show "7th Heaven" is being investigated for child molestation.
Here's what happened: Back in 2012, Stephen Collins confessed to his estranged wife (in a therapy session) that he had molested and exposed himself to underage girls. What he didn't know at the time was that his wife, actress Faye Grant, was secretly recording his answers to all of her specific questions about the incident.
In California, you're allowed to secretly record conversations to gather evidence if the other person committed a violent felony... and molesting children under the age of 14 qualifies.
TMZ got their hands on the tape and posted it for the world to hear (warning: it's disturbing) and the New York Police Dept. is now conducting an active criminal investigation involving sexual contact with multiple children.
Source
Dimitri Diatchenko
Dimitri Diatchenko, who played small roles in shows like Sons of Anarchy, Walker, Texas Ranger and How I Met Your Mother, was charged with killing and eating his ex-girlfriend's pet rabbit, according to the LA Times.
They added that Diatchenko sent his ex grisly photos of the procedure and threatened to do the same thing to her. The 46 year old was charged in December 2014 with felony counts of cruelty to an animal with use of a knife and making criminal threats.
He faces up to four years and eight months in prison if convicted.
Josh Duggar
The oldest of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting brood, Josh Duggar was accused of child molestation. According to reports, Duggar fondled five young girls while he was a teenager. Instead of going immediately to the police, his parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, first conferred with church elders and sent Josh to a family friend to help straighten him out. They didn't tell police until more than a year later.
In 2015, the news finally broke. Josh released a statement saying, "Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life."
Read more:
People, In Touch, USA Today