Charlie Sheen’s new Aug. 2 court date will not affect filming on the new season of “Two and a Half Men,” scheduled to start the first week of August, the actor’s lawyer told TheWrap.
Sheen, who signed up for another two seasons of the CBS sitcom on May 17, was scheduled to appear in court on July 12 for a hearing on the felony and third-degree assault charges stemming from an incident in Aspen on Dec. 25, 2009.
The date change “will not impact" the sitcom, said Richard Cummins, who has been representing the actor on the domestic violence charges. “They will be able to start shooting no problem.”
The lawyer’s comments raise speculation that the latest plea deal for the actor could involve nonconsecutive jail or community service days, allowing Sheen to fly back to Los Angeles to work on the eighth season of “Two and a Half Men.”
Sheen, who was noticeably overlooked in Thursday's Primetime Emmy nominations, was arrested on Dec. 25 under his real name of Carlos Irwin Estevez after police responded to a 911 call from his wife, Brooke Mueller, claiming that Sheen was trying to kill her.
A previous plea-bargain deal for the star, who has had a number of run-ins with the law over the years, fell apart on June 7 just minutes before defense attorneys, Sheen and the Aspen district attorney were to appear before the judge. At the time, according to Arnold Mordkin, the Aspen deputy D.A. handling the case, the agreement “hit a snag.”
Originally charged with menacing, a class five felony; criminal mischief, a class one misdemeanor; and second-degree assault, the 44-year-old actor saw the latter charge reduced to third degree assault in a Feb. 8 court decision. On March 15, he appeared in Aspen court to plead not guilty. Sheen could face up to five years in jail if convicted on all charges.
Perhaps to avoid the fiasco of June 7, the lawyers are playing this potential plea deal close to the vest. “As in any criminal case, we’ve been in discussion with the District Attorney’s office,” was all Cummins would say Friday on the specifics of a new Sheen deal, “and we will continue to be in discussion with the D.A.’s office.”
Attempts by TheWrap to reach Aspen D.A.’s office and CBS were not immediately successful.
