Justin Bieber's criminal behavior is proving to be a test for prosecutors in Los Angeles who are under pressure to hand out another serving of celebrity justice.
He has been implicated in a string of incidents, including drunken driving in his Lamborghini in a drag race in Miami Beach, Fla., an assault charge in his native Canada and a Los Angeles investigation into whether he egged a neighbor’s mansion, causing twenty thousand dollars in damages.
After the drag racing brouhaha, Bieber was charged with three misdemeanors for driving under the influence, resisting arrest and using an expired license.
Bieber and his African American friend Lil Za were both implicated in the vandalism of a home owned by Bieber's neighbor. Eggs were tossed at the home, costing $20,000 in damages.
Detectives searched Bieber's mansion looking for evidence and encountered Lil Za. They found him with ecstasy and oxycodone and he was charged in January with two counts of felony drug possession. Authorities initially said they arrested him on suspicion of cocaine possession, but they amended the charges after testing the drugs.
Lil Za, whose real name is Xavier Domonique Smith, was the only person arrested during the search. Bieber however remains 'under investigation' for felony vandalism. Lil Za was also charged with felony vandalism for damaging a $400 jailhouse phone. That's three felony charges for Lil Za, folks.
Not so in the case of Justin Bieber. It is taking an eternity for his charges in the egging incident to be filed.
TMZ is reporting that prosecutors, after much hand wringing, have finally decided to charge Bieber with misdemeanor vandalism.
Justin Bieber will be charged with a crime for allegedly egging his neighbor's house, but the case will probably never go to trial ... sources connected with the case tell TMZ.
Our sources say the L.A. County D.A. has contacted Bieber's lawyer, Howard Weitzman, and asked for a meeting to discuss restitution for the egging damage -- which the neighbor puts at $20K.
We're told the discussion between Weitzman and the prosecutor will center around paying for the damage, and pleading no contest to misdemeanor vandalism. Bieber would serve no jail time and be placed on informal probation.
The short of it all -- the case would be over before it begins. Bieber will be charged, the plea bargain will be entered and it would then be case closed.
Our sources say the D.A. and the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. are at odds over the case. The Sheriff wants Bieber charged with a FELONY because the egging was intentional and it caused a huge amount of damage. The D.A., we're told, thinks Bieber's hijinks does not rise to the level of a felony ... and a misdemeanor is more appropriate.
We're told Weitzman has not met with the D.A. yet but that should happen shortly. It looks like this case could be resolved as early as next week.
http://www.tmz.com#ixzz2wPdc5nF
It appears that the wheels of justice turn rapidly when it applies to regular folks like Lil Za. From all appearances prosecutors are prepared to give Bieber another 'get-out-of-jail-free card.' It's sad that the justice system does not apply the same standards to us all.