Don Cornelius Charged With Spousal Battery, Assault With Deadly Weapon

Don Cornelius, the 72-year-old creator and host of Soul Train, was officially charged today with three counts of spousal battery, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of dissuading a witness from making a police report. Cornelius faces up to a year for each of the five counts.

The charges stem from the TV star’s October 17th arrest, and a previous police report from 2007. The alleged victim, Victoria Cornelius, is Don’s second wife. There is no word on how Cornelius’ arrest may affect the 2009 Soul Train Awards (the ‘08 ceremony was canceled due to the writers’ strike) or the production of Soul Train: The Movie, a buddy film about two dancers he was planning to produce with Warner Bros. for release next year.

Check out the gallery for photos of Don & Victoria Cornelius.

[Photo: WireImage]

Don and Victoria Cornelius at a Tribute To Berry Gordy in LA, last June.
[Photo: Getty Images]

Don and Victoria Cornelius at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Party, last February.
[Photo: WireImage]

Don admires his wife's ensemble.
[Photo: WireImage]

Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri hang with the Cornelius' at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy party in February.
[Photo: WireImage]

Don and Victoria at Clive's 2007 Pre-Grammy Party.
[Photo: WireImage]

Don sneaks a peek at a ceremony in 2006.
[Photo: Getty Images]

Victoria and Don in 2006.
[Photo: Getty Images]

The drama continues in the wake of the tragic suicide death of Paula Goodspeed, the scorned American Idol contestant and Paula Abdul fan found dead in her car outside of Abdul’s home. Goodspeed’s brother Charles McIntyre is speaking out in defense of his sister, and told E! Online that “she was not a stalker.” McIntyre insists that his lil’ sis did not have a criminal record, mental problems or suicidal tendencies, and that she was “just like anyone else, trying to make it big as an actor or singer.”

McIntyre also asserts that Paula had coffee with her idol, Abdul, in 2005, something the singer has yet to comment on. But a source close to the American Idol judge reveals that Goodspeed had apparently exhibited eccentric and inappropriate behavior, including sending Abdul flowers that claimed to be from her boyfriend, phone calls, letters (over 100), and visit attempts. The wannabee Idol also changed her name from Sandra to Paula, but her brother says it was done sixteen years ago, soley because she liked the name. Still, no one seems to have a concrete answer as to just what happened, or why. “Why they found her dead in her car near Paula Abdul’s house, I do not know,” said Goodspeed’s niece. “But I don’t believe my aunt killed herself.” [Photos: GettyImages, WireImage]

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Fashion designer Anand Jon was found guilty of 16 of 23 counts of sexual abuse today in LA. The charges included multiple counts of forcible and statutory rape. Jon allegedly lured aspiring models, some as young as 14, to a Beverly Hills apartment by promising them high profile work—before coercing them into “sadistic fantasies.”

The designer, who created clothes for Paris Hilton and appeared on America’s Next Top Model, was originally arrested in March 2007. Jon faces potential life imprisonment for his crimes.

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Anand Jon at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007.
[Photo: Getty Images]

Anand Jon and Paula Abdul at Paris Hilton's 26th Birthday Dinner in 2007.
[Photo: WireImage]

Anand Jon and Michelle Trachtenberg in 2006.
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Anne Dexter Jones, Anand Jon and Tommy Hilfiger in 2006.
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Emmanuelle Chriqui and Anand Jon in 2003.
[Photo: WireImage]

Anand Jon and Bai Ling at LA Fashion Week in 2004.
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Anand Jon With Lydia Hearst at the 2002 VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards After Party.
[Photo: Getty Images]

Anand Jon in 2002.
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Anand Jon in 2001.
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Anand Jon with Ivanka Trump in 1999.
[Photo: Getty Images]

Whenever celebrities get sent to the slammer, they are just chock full of complaints! Stars whine about everything from bad food to claustrophobic rooms to blood-stained blankets. Incarcerated celebrities can’t stand to be away from the 5 star necessities like spacious terraces, gourmet cuisine, and cashmere throws to which they are accustomed. But that’s why it’s called prison and not the Beverly Hills Hotel! Check out Scandalist’s Whiniest Celebrity Prisoners… [Photo:Getty]

Joe Francis: This Girls Gone Wild creator wasn't too happy at the Florida jail where he served time for contempt charges brought about by a civil lawsuit by seven women who claimed they were underage when Joe filmed them for his famous videos. He reportedly told his psychiatrist, "I started freaking out and screaming, I couldn't breathe. I don't think I can handle this on a long-term thing--I'm not a criminal."

Raffaello Follieri: Anne Hathaway's ex is currently complaining about showers at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center that are filled with excrement, spoiled food, and an intolerable stench. His attorney even wrote a letter to the judge saying the jail is having a "detrimental effect on his health." It's not the $37,500-a-month apartment in Manhattan's Trump Tower where he used to bunk!

Paris Hilton: During her 2007 sentence for charges related to her DUI, Paris called home to complain that her cell was "freezing cold" and she "couldn't sleep."

Nick Hogan: During his sentence for reckless driving, Nick Hogan complained about being in solitary confinement. "I'm going crazy in this room," he told his mom Linda. "It's like half the size of my bathroom, no windows or nothing, with just one little top-bed thing."

Anand Jon: While awaiting trial for sex charges involving young models, the designer wrote to Los Angeles magazine and described his days in the cell. "I grapple with blankets that have bloodstains dried in tie-dyed patterns and battle nocturnal visits from . . . rodents and insects (that I have not even seen in the jungles of India!) . . . The whole thing feels like a Stephen King novel turned into a movie directed by M. Night Shyamalan."

DMX: This rapper loved jail so much, after he was denied bail at a hearing in Florida earlier this year, he screamed, "I ain't going back to no f%@#ing jail!"

The identity of Paula Abdul’s stalker, found dead outside of her home Tuesday night, has been revealed by TMZ. Paula Goodspeed, the victim, actually auditioned for American Idol in 2005, appearing on the tryout portion of the show. In the clip above, Goodspeed describes drawing life-size drawings of Abdul (”…as a kid, my first drawing was of Paula”) and howls a painful version of “Proud Mary”. After her rejection, Goodspeed dismisses their critiques (”I was pitchy on a couple notes, big f*cking deal.”) while Simon Cowell mocks her braces (”how did she get through the metal detector?”). Ryan Seacrest, previously referring to Goodspeed as “Paula’s #1 fan,” ends the sequence with “strange way to start out the day.” He doesn’t know the half of it.

Her MySpace page—unedited since 2006—has several references to Abdul (”my secret crush, shhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!“) and a blog post concerning her appearance on the show, which aired in February ‘06.

It’s very hard reading such awful things being written about yourself…..or hearing things being said….. not like alot of people would understand what it’s like having so many haters , just because I made the mistake of trying out for a singing competition before I was ~even~ ready vocally, emotionally and physically.

UPDATE: Police were called to Abdul’s residence on “multiple occasions” over the last two years to deal with Goodspeed. “I can’t say whether Ms. Abdul was directly harassed,” an LAPD representative told People. “Ms. Goodspeed had been causing enough of a disturbance [to have police called].” TMZ claims this was not the first time that the victim overdosed in front of the Sherwood Oaks home.

Paula Goodspeed auditioning for American Idol on August 3, 2003 in Pasandena, California. [Photo: Getty Images]

Paula Goodspeed auditioning for American Idol on August 3, 2003 in Pasandena, California. [Photo: Getty Images]

Paula Goodspeed posted this picture on her MySpace page with the following caption: "I'm not the 'girl in pink' in this pic!"

Paula Goodspeed dressed for Halloween in 2005 as Elphaba from Wicked. [Photo: Paula Goodspeed's MySpace page]

Paula Goodspeed's body was found in a car parked outside of Paula Abdul's home. [Photo: Splash News Online]

Paula Abdul released this statement after Paula Goodspeed was found dead outside of her house. [Photo: Splash News Online]

Paula Goodspeed and a friend. [Photo: Paula's MySpace page]

Paula Abdul at last month's premiere of High School Musical 3: Senior Year. [Photo: WireImage]

Paula Abdul arrives at the gala premiere of Criss Angel Believe by Cirque du Soleil on Halloween. [Photo: Getty Images]

RELATED CONTENT: Paula Abdul Stalker Found Dead Outside Of Idol Star’s Home

Embattled former Death Row owner Suge Knight allegedly started his career by hanging Vanilla Ice out of a hotel window—so it makes sense that the impresario would go back to harrassing rappers today. Knight is belatedly suing Kanye West for the shooting injury he received at West’s pre-VMA bash in August 2005. After all, it was the “Love Lockdown” star’s security that let the unknown assailant through, capping Knight in the leg.

Knight’s other grievances against West include loss of blood, the loss of a diamond earring worth almost $150,000, and having to take a private jet back to Cali (it was so necessary!). He’s also—we shit you not—hitting West up for the “mental anguish” Knight received over “the loss of use and enjoyment of the earring.” Pretty ridiculous, though if anyone would sympathize with the pain of losing diamonds, it’s West.

So why did Knight fail to sue West until now? It couldn’t have anything to do with Knight being under bankruptcy protection, could it? Still, it might be in West’s best interests to settle. Remember when Knight was arrested for beating his girlfriend in Vegas last August? That case is on hold, as the woman, Melissa Isaac, is now missing. Take heed, Yeezy.

[Photos: WireImage/FilmMagic]

California police have confirmed that a dead woman found in a car outside of Paula Abdul’s home had “an unnatural obsession” with the American Idol judge. The victim’s parents reported her missing to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department at 3:00pm yesterday, suggesting that authorities may find the unnamed thirty-year-old near Abdul’s Sherman Oaks residence. Footage at the scene shows stickers of the “Straight Up” singer on the victim’s car, and a Forever Your Girl tour laminate hanging from the rear view mirror.

While police have yet to verify the cause of death, a suicidal overdose of prescription drugs is suspected. Abdul was reportedly taping an episode of Idol when the body was found.

[Photo: WireImage]

Who knew Donald Trump was such a good Samaritan? The comb-over king has come to the rescue of Jennifer Hudson and her family, housing the mourning clan at his Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago, for free. “She’s a great girl. And we’re protecting them well,” he told People magazine. “They are very safe.”

Safe from everything but the Donald, that is. Surely he’s going to want something in return, right?

William Balfour, the only suspect in the triple murder of Jennifer Hudson’s mom, brother and nephew, will not be walking out of jail today. Balfour is currently being held on a parole violation, but was thisclose to being released if there were no other violations found to keep him behind bars. His pregnant girlfriend is responsible for extending his lockdown, after she told cops he was in possession of a gun that matched the one used in the murder.

His girlfriend has also told authorities that Balfour confessed to being involved in the murders, and he has admitted to being at the Hudson home the morning the family members were gunned down. Looks like confession-watch has officially started.  [ChicagoTribune. Photo: FilmMagic]

Free man Nick Hogan has been busy celebrating his release from jail with his dad, Hulk Hogan, in Las Vegas. TMZ’s nosy cameras recently caught up with him on his way to work out, and dragged some interesting info out of the kid, who turned 18 years old this summer.

• Nick did not vote in the Presidential election, though considering his sister Brooke’s clueless take on politics, we’re not surprised.
• He’s currently “looking around” at colleges. (Hey Nick - you may want to avoid mentioning that you failed to vote during your college interviews. They’re not really into apathy that much.)
• The family of John Graziano, his friend who was severely injured in his car crash, refuses to allow Nick to visit his former friend. “The family won’t let me into the hospital right now…we’re working on it,” he told the camera. Think they’ll ever be able to reach a truce?  [TMZ. Photo: GettyImages]