Actor Charlie Sheen, who was arrested early Christmas day in Aspen for allegedly assaulting wife Brooke Mueller, is back on the street, after spending only a few only hours in jail — thanks to a friendly judge.
Police spokeswoman Stephanie Dasaro said Sheen was able to post $8,500 bond and was freed. Earlier reports said he would be held in jail without bond until he could go before a county judge. Under normal circumstances, that would have been on Monday (Dec. 28).
But Sheen’s well-known Colo. lawyer, Richard Cummins, was able to round up a judge to hear the matter immediately. Talk about celebrity favoritism, the court was closed for Christmas. But a judge made a special effort to hear the matter, so Sheen wouldn’t have to cool his heels in jail over the weekend.
He was allowed to post bond after being advised on the conditions of his release, the Associated Press confirmed. Sheen was charged with felony counts of second-degree assault and menacing, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.
Sheen’s publicist Stan Rosenfield urged the media not to jump to conclusions: “Do not be mislead by appearance,” the rep said. “Appearance and reality can be as different as night and day.”
Although Mueller called 911 and claimed her husband struck her, Sheen reportedly told the police that Mueller became aggressive toward him, and he was simply trying to fend her off.
Mueller was legally drunk when she made the 911 call and Sheen has been drinking but was under the legal limit, according to celebrity Web site TMZ.com.
Sheen married Mueller in 2008 and she had twin boys with the actor in March of this year. He has two daughters by his second wife, actress Denise Richards.
Charlie Sheen Aspen Mug Shot
His four-year marriage to Richards ended in 2006 in one of the bitterest divorces in recent Hollywood memory.
Sheen denied Richards’ allegations of gambling, drugs, porn, and threats, but a judge ultimately ordered him to stay 300 feet away from her and their children. They are still fighting over child custody.
Sheen was alleged to have spent more than $50,000 on prostitutes and uttered the now infamous phrase that half the money was for sex and the other has was so they would go away afterward.
The 44-year-old actor was taken into custody after police responded to a 911 call from a posh $7.5 million house in the luxury ski resort. The house is reportedly owned by Mueller’s parents, although it is on the market.
Police refused to identify the caller or the victim of the alleged assault, but several web sites have reported that Sheen was alleged to have struck Mueller after an argument.
An Ambulance responded to the scene, but the victim was treated on the scene.
Sheen was identified in the police report by his given name, Carlos Irwin Estevez. He is the son of actor Martin Sheen and brother of actor-director Emilio Estevez.
The star of the hit CBS sitcom “Two and a Half Men” was held in the Pitkin County jail. Initially, no date for his hearing has been set at the time of his arrest.
