"No contest," Gibson told the judge when she asked for his plea, with the actor citing "People vs. West," which allowed him not to admit liability in the case.
As a result of his plea, Gibson was sentenced to 52 weeks of counseling in a domestic violence program, which he and his attorney revealed in court he has already begun. However, Gibson will not be given credit for the work he has already done and he must enroll in the program within the next 21 days. He must also pay a $400 domestic violence fine in addition to several other fines and fees.
Gibson must show proof of enrollment in the domestic violence counseling program by June 9, 2011, and complete it by March 30, next year.
A protective order was also put into place.
Gibson was also ordered to perform 16 hours of community service, which he will do with Mending Kids International, an organization where Gibson's estranged wife, Robyn Gibson, is the president.
In addition to placing Gibson on criminal probation for 36 months, the judge ordered Gibson to continue in a mental health-counseling program, with his undisclosed doctor.
"You continue the treatment that you already, on your own, have undertaken," the judge said.
"[He is] entering this plea because it's in the best interest of his children," Gibson's attorney, Blair Berk, said in court.
According to the prosecutor and the defense, the plea was made to help keep any further trauma from the "minor victim," who was not identified in court, but who reportedly witnessed the incident.
Gibson arrived to court at around 1:29 PM in a silver vehicle, with what appeared to be his attorney. He did not address the media, who attempted to pose questions like, "Are you ashamed of your actions?," as he walked into the courthouse.
While in court, the actor appeared attentive, but spoke very little, answering the judge's questions in just a few words.
Earlier in the day, the LA District Attorney's Office charged the actor in LA Superior Court, contending in their court filing that Gibson committed battery against Grigorieva on around January 6, 2010.
According to Friday's court filing, a Suspected Child Abuse Report (SCAR) "may have been generated... involving the charges alleged" in the case.
As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Gibson - through his attorney, Blair Berk -- reached an agreement with prosecutors and made a plea deal in the case, which was worked out several days ago.
In a statement to Access Hollywood earlier in the week, Berk explained why the actor accepted a plea deal.
"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," the statement read. "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. 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."
Gibson is alleged to have struck Grigorieva during the incident, but she did not report it for months.
Gibson and Grigorieva are parents to a daughter, Lucia, who was born in 2009.
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