Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009

Ohio chief's trial begins in SJP case

St. Clairsville, Ohio -- A police chief on trial in Ohio acknowledges that he joked with paparazzi about working with them to snoop on the woman who carried twins for celebrity couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, his lawyer told jurors Monday.

Suspended Martins Ferry Chief Barry Carpenter entered the woman's home but never stole anything, attorney Dennis McNamara said during the opening arguments in Belmont County court.

Carpenter and Police Chief Chad Dojack from nearby Bridgeport are accused of scheming to sell items from the eastern Ohio home of surrogate Michelle Ross to the celebrity photographers.

Assistant Attorney General Emily Lauvey told jurors that Carpenter used his position as chief to exploit someone else's most personal and intimate privacy.

Carpenter faces several felony charges, including burglary, receiving stolen property and theft in office. He could face 21 1/2 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Richie bars photographers

Los Angeles A judge has granted Nicole Richie's request for a restraining order barring two celebrity photographers from coming close to her or her children.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carol Boas Goodson approved Richie's petition for a three-year restraining order against the paparazzi after a court hearing Monday.

Richie, 28, appeared in court, accompanied by rocker Joel Madden. The couple have two children together.

Goodson granted the orders against Eduardo Arrivabene and Ivon Emilio Melo Miguel, who agreed to stay 50 yards away from the television personality. Miguel apologized to Richie on the stand and said in court he would not take pictures of her if she didn't want him to.

Both Richie and Madden said they didn't want either man to take pictures of them anymore.

Arrivabene and Miguel declined to comment. Richie, Madden and their attorney, Mark Geragos, also declined to comment after the hearing.

Pair can't get enough TV

New York Reality TV personalities Heidi and Spencer Pratt said Monday they want to branch out from MTV's "The Hills" and star in their own reality show to give viewers a bigger peek into their lives.

In an interview to promote their new book, "How to be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture," the couple told The Associated Press they're shopping the idea around to various networks.

They said that while "The Hills" - which doesn't acknowledge its cast members' fame - only focuses on a small part of their lives, their own show would reveal everything that happens to them. They also said they'd even be willing to include live segments.

"You don't get to see our everyday lives and what we do," Heidi Pratt said.

But the Pratts also said they don't plan to leave "The Hills" and hope to appear in both shows.

Birthdays today

Singer Gordon Lightfoot, 71

Movie director Martin Scorsese, 67

Actor-director Danny DeVito, 65

"Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels, 65

Actress-model Daisy Fuentes, 43