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The criminal case against former child actor Gary Coleman is over. Coleman took a plea deal this morning.
The case stems from a run-in between Coleman and a man outside of a Payson bowling alley in September.
Today Coleman pleaded no contest to the charges of reckless driving and disorderly conduct. His no contest pleas will result in the charges being dropped through a plea in abeyance, if he does not violate any laws in the next nine months.
Coleman says he took a plea deal because he wanted to get the case over with.
"Celebrities can't go nowhere or do nothing without people interfering in their lives. It just doesn't work that way," Coleman said. "You either have to get used to it or fight it tooth and nail the whole way."
Colt Rushton claims he tried taking Coleman's picture at the Payson bowling alley in September and that Coleman became aggressive in the parking lot and tried to run him over.
Coleman said, "The thing I hate about being a celebrity is people listen with their mouths and hear with their eyes. So I think we've effectively said that I am not going to tolerate that and you are not going to get into my pocket. That's not going to happen."
But Coleman now has to defend himself in a personal injury lawsuit brought by Rushton, who is seeking damages from the altercation.
The plaintiff's attorney, Dustin Lance, said, "We're involved in fact discovery right now. Right now we are doing written questions and next will be Mr. Coleman's deposition. It will be the first time that we will have an opportunity to take his statement and get his version of the events as they transpired."
Coleman, who has had more than his fair share of unwanted attention, believes the whole situation has been much adieu about nothing.
"You know what? At the end of the day, two years from now, you guys will stand around and go, ‘Why did we cover that for?'" he said.
Coleman has already paid $300 in fines. The personal injury case against him is expected to take another year before it is resolved.
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
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