Comedian cleared of lewdness with kids

Associated Press

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Comedian Paula Poundstone accepted a plea agreement Wednesday that ends her child abuse case and clears her of lewd conduct charges.

The 41-year-old former star of the game show "To Tell the Truth" pleaded no contest in Los Angeles Superior Court to felony child endangerment and misdemeanor inflicting injury on a child, said her publicist Allan Mayer.

"The lewd conduct charges against me were dropped because they weren’t true," Poundstone said in a written statement. "I pled no-contest to the child endangerment-injury charges because they were. My drinking helped to create a dangerous situation for the children. For this, I am very sorry."

As a result of the deal, prosecutors dropped the three lewd conduct charges filed against Poundstone, Deputy District Attorney Gina Satriano said.

Poundstone accepted the prosecutor’s sentencing recommendation of five years supervised probation with the condition that 180 days in a secure drug and alcohol rehabilitation center count instead of county jail.

She previously pleaded innocent to three counts of committing a lewd act on a girl under the age of 14 and endangering two other girls and two boys. She faced a maximum prison term of 13 years and four months if convicted.

Her lawyer, Steven Cron, has said his client has a drinking problem that had a bearing on her arrest, but he has declined to elaborate. Prosecutors also have declined to provide details about the charges because juveniles were involved.

Poundstone lost custody of her three adopted children after she was arrested on June 27 in Malibu but she could get them back, Mayer said. She will not regain custody of her two foster children and will not be eligible to care for more, he added.

The comedian remained free on $200,000 bail and has been living in an alcohol rehabilitation center, where Cron has said she’s making progress.