After a prolonged investigation and public scandal, Mel Gibson entered a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from his fight with Oksana Grigorieva on January 6, 2010.

The actor received a sentence of  three years probation and was ordered to attend 52 weeks of counseling in a domestic violence program.  The judge also said he would continue psychological “treatment” he is already under with his doctor.

PHOTOS: Mel Gibson Arrives To Court In Los Angeles

Gibson also was hit with a protective order to stay away from Grigorieva.

The most dramatic moment in a day that was pre-scripted came when the judge asked, “Mel Gibson…how do you now plead.”

Watch Mel Gibson live in court on RadarOnline.com.

Mel answered: “No contest, pursuant to People v. West.” That plea does not constitute an express admission of guilt but only a consent to be punished as if guilty.
One revelation that surprised some was that Gibson has been in a domestic violence counseling program since January. He was ordered to do 16 hours of community service and pay a small fine. He will perform the community service with a group whose board of directors includes his wife Robyn.
Oksana was not in the courtroom and waived her right to appear.

EXCLUSIVE FIRST PHOTOS: The Injury To Oksana's Teeth

“I have a good grasp of everything my attorney has discussed with me,” Gibson said at one point in the proceedings, referencing attorney Blair Berk, who fought hard to the very end and told the court, “he’s entering this plea because it was in the best interest of his children.”

Gibson’s no contest West plea will protect him to a certain extent in civil proceedings with Oksana.

PHOTOS: Mel & Oksana In Happier Times

The judge ordered the star to finish his domestic violence counseling by March 30, 2012 and also warned him “not to annoy, harass or molest anyone in this case.”

Gibson arrived at the Los Angeles-area courthouse Friday in a white SUV and was wearing a black suit and blue shirt with white striped but no tie. His long-time publicist Alan Neirob was with him.

Oksana and Mel have a daughter together but their relationship deteriorated into violence on the night that led to Mel’s criminal charge. Oksana claimed Mel punched her in the head while she held their infant daughter Lucia. She also said he put an arm on her throat and held her on the bed.

Mel was charged under California penal code section 243 (e)(1). The complaint stated: “On or about January 6, 2010, in the county of Los Angeles, the crime of BATTERY…was committed by MEL GIBSON, who did willfully and unlawfully use force and violence upon the person of Oksana G…” The charge targets a cohabitant or someone who the accused has a child with.

RadarOnline.com published the infamous tapes of Mel apparently admitting to hitting Oksana that night, telling her “you f**king deserved it.”

The tapes caused the controversy to explode publicly as Mel was revealed cursing, using racist and misogynistic language and threatening Oksana.

MEL AUDIO TAPE: Mel Gibson Admits Hitting Oksana, Threatens To Kill Her

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Real Housewives of Miami star Marysol Patton was arrested on January 10, 2010 for a DUI, and according to the police report obtained exclusively by RadarOnline.com, the Housewife was also wanted in connection with a hit-and-run.

READ THE POLICE REPORT HERE

“In the process a BOLO [Be On the Look Out] was issued for a black Mercedes…involved in a hit and run,” Officer Wirth wrote, recalling the moments after he’d pulled Patton over on suspicion of driving under the influence.

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“A repeat of the tag and description of the driver…advised the car was on scene.”

The 44-year-old was arrested at 3:35 a.m., after she admitted to being out to dinner with friends for her 43rd birthday, but denied consuming any alcohol and refused to take a breathalyzer test.

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“The def on first contact had bloodshot watery eyes and an odor of alcohol coming from the car,” the report reads.

“I offered SFST’s [Standardized Field Sobriety Test] in a lighted area with a smooth surface. The def said, ‘I’m not doing any tests.’”
Patton, who runs a public relations firm in Miami, was advised of the consequences upon refusal, and was subsequently arrested.

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Interestingly, Patton’s first name is spelled Marisol on her driver’s license, but is promoted by Bravo as being spelled Marysol – perhaps in an attempt to escape her checkered past.

As previously reported by RadarOnline.com, Patton pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of Reckless Driving and was slapped with a $1,000 fine plus $581 in court costs.

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Elsa Carreras Patton, Marysol’s 76-year-old mother was also arrested later that year for a DUI and driving without a valid license, but was later dismissed when the arresting officer failed to show up in court to testify.

The Real Housewives of Miami is scheduled to premiere on February 22 on Bravo.

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