Charlie Sheen's Christmas Behind Bars: Inside the Assault and 911 Call
Charlie Sheen, a well-known actor, found himself spending Christmas Day 2009 in jail due to allegations of assault by his wife.
Known for his "bad boy" image and a history marked by violence against women, Sheen was confined to a cell for eight hours. The incident occurred after his wife, Brooke Mueller Sheen, also known as Brooke Allen, placed an urgent call to the police in the early hours of Christmas morning, claiming she had been attacked.
The lead actor of the popular sitcom "Two and a Half Men," and recognized as the highest-paid TV actor in America, Sheen was arrested on charges of second-degree assault and menacing, both of which could lead to a year-long prison sentence. Additionally, the 44-year-old was charged with criminal mischief.
The incident reportedly began after Sheen and his wife started drinking on Christmas morning. The situation escalated at their rented residence in Aspen, Colorado, where Sheen allegedly grabbed his wife by the throat and pushed her violently.
Although an ambulance was summoned, Mueller did not require hospitalization.
TMZ.com, a celebrity gossip website, reported that both Mueller and Sheen were subjected to blood alcohol tests by the police at the scene. Despite Sheen's insistence that he was merely defending himself and that Brooke was the aggressor, he was taken to Pitkin County Jail and held for eight hours.
Sheen was later released on bail after posting a bond of $8,500 and receiving guidance from a county judge regarding his release conditions. A court hearing has been scheduled for February 8, 2010.
Richard Cummins, a prominent Colorado attorney representing Sheen, urged caution in forming opinions, stating to the Associated Press, "I think at the end of the day it will be much ado about nothing. I don't think there's any criminality about what went on. The February court date may be to determine whether a case goes forward or not."
Stan Rosenfield, Sheen's publicist, also warned against making assumptions about the incident, emphasizing the importance of not jumping to conclusions.
Sheen's marriage to former actress and real estate investor Mueller, with whom he has twin boys, took place in May 2008, following a contentious divorce and custody battle with actress Denise Richards. This marks Sheen's third marriage and Mueller's first.
Rumors of strain in their relationship have been circulating since the birth of twins Bob and Max in April, further fueled by Mueller's decision to rent a house in Aspen while Sheen stayed in LA.
Born Carlos Estevez, Sheen is the son of actor Martin Sheen and the brother of actor-director Emilio Estevez. He gained fame through movies like "Platoon," "Wall Street," "Major League," and "Hot Shots!" and became a household name in American TV sitcoms.
Sheen's reputation as a "bad boy" is no secret, and his character, Charlie Harper, in the CBS series is humorously based on his own history of womanizing and heavy drinking.
However, his image has been tarnished by a history of violence towards women and substance abuse, including prescription drugs.
In 2005, his second wife, Richards, filed for divorce while pregnant, citing Sheen's abuse of drugs and alcohol and threats of violence. During the custody battle for their two daughters, allegations of inappropriate touching were made by Richards' former nanny, Diana Alvarez, but Sheen denied them.
In December 1996, Sheen was arrested and charged with attacking a girlfriend at his Southern California home, leading to two years' probation. This followed an incident six years prior when he accidentally shot his then-fiancée, Kelly Preston, in the arm.
Sheen's drug history is also extensive. In 1998, his father reported him for parole violation when Sheen overdosed on cocaine.
