Mel Gibson Set to Plead No Contest and Avoid Jail in Domestic Violence Case

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Mel Gibson is set to plead no contest to battery during a court appearance on Friday to avoid more serious 

charges in his domestic violence case with Oksana Grigorieva.

As part of the proposed plea bargain, the actor will notface jail time.

Under the terms of the deal, the Los Angeles County District Attorney will not pursue a criminal charge of corporal injury against Gibson, who would be required to enter counseling.

Gibson’s attorney Blair Berk tells MFC in a statement, “I know from almost 20 years as a criminal defense lawyer that sometimes justice can come for a client at too high a personal price. That is particularly so for Mel, whose right to due process can only be exercised in this case with an enormous media circus attached.”

“Mel’s priority throughout all of this has been that the best interests of his young daughter Lucia and the rest of his children be put first in any decisions made,” continues Berk.

“It is with only that in mind that he asked me to approach the District Attorney with a proposal that would bring all of this to an immediate end.”

Another source close to the situation confirms the rationale, informing Gossip Cop that Gibson agreed to the lesser charge to avoid the strain a lengthy trial process would put on his family.

Gibson and Grigorieva’s explosive relationship came to a head on January 6, 2010, when Grigorieva alleges Gibson hit her as she held their daughter Lucia.

A series of recorded phone conversations and voice mails documenting Gibson’s rage and threats against Grigorieva surfaced last summer.