Celebs who had trouble with the law in 2017

Every year, a few celebrities fight the law, and the law wins. For some stars, this is old hat. Take Shia LaBeouf, for example. The actor's history of legal woes is well-documented. In 2017, he had another run-in: He was arrested on July 8 in Savannah, Georgia, for public intoxication, disorderly conduct and obstruction. None of that was really the issue. During the arrest, Shia went nuclear, verbally assaulting police officers and using homophobic and racist language. Bodycam video showed Shia yelling at an officer, "I have rights! I'm an American. You got me in my hotel, arresting me in my hotel for doing what, sir?" A video from inside the police car was also released. In it, Shia did more of the same, shouting at a white police officer for putting his "own kind" in jail. He also ranted about paying his taxes. Inside the police station (in yet another video), he told a black police officer that he was going "to hell" and said what he was doing was "savage" because of the color of his skin. Over the course of the arrest, he called officers "cowards," "pirates" and "slimy," among other things, most of them not fit for print. He also mocked a white police officer about his wife's sexual preferences. On July 12, Shia apologized and said he'd hit a "bottom." "My outright disrespect for authority is problematic to say the least, and completely destructive to say the worst. It is a new low. A low I hope is a bottom," he said. "I have been struggling with addiction publicly for far too long, and I am actively taking steps toward securing my sobriety and hope I can be forgiven for my mistakes." On Oct. 19, Shia pleaded guilty to obstruction and no contest to disorderly conduct. His public drunkenness charge was dismissed as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.

On July 15, Aaron Carter was arrested on DUI and marijuana charges in Georgia. According to Habersham County Sheriff's Office Capt. Floyd Canup, Aaron was "driving all over the road and driving into the median." Aaron refused to take a Breathalyzer. The pop star, who appeared disheveled in his mugshot, said he was targeted because he's famous. He also argued that he wasn't even driving the car (he claims it was parked in an AutoZone lot), but cops said otherwise. Interestingly enough, the arrest was actually Aaron's second run-in with police that night. TMZ reported that the singer went to a Walmart in Commerce, Georgia, after blowing out a tire on his Chevy Suburban, and he arrived riding on the rims of the vehicle. Aaron, though, supposedly couldn't pay the bill for a new tire and cops were called (employees feared he had a spare key and could leave). But all was settled after a fan paid the $110 tab for him.

Former "The Bachelor" star Chris Soules has been dealing with some serious legal issues since he was involved in a fatal accident in Iowa. On April 25, Chris was arrested several hours after he was involved in a truck vs. tractor crash that claimed the life of Kenneth Moser. The reality TV star initially called police and stayed with the victim. However, once help arrived, he left and went home. He was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal car accident and has pleaded not guilty. There were reports that alcohol containers were found in Chris' truck, but he was not charged with DUI and his attorneys said Chris tested negative for drugs and alcohol. Prosecutors said Chris wouldn't come out of his home after the crash, and it took cops hours to get a search warrant. His trial is set for January 2018.

Is there dancing in the big house? On July 12, "Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller reported to the Federal Correctional Complex's Satellite Prison Camp in Victorville, California, to begin her 366-day sentence for fraud. A Lifetime camera crew followed her as she went in. Just two days before surrendering, she joked that the best part of going behind bars was "free rent." She also said that it was "surreal" to think about going to prison. She could be released in 10 months. Before her stint behind bars, Abby hired a prison consultant.

Luann de Lesseps was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 24 after an an alcohol-fueled incident in which she allegedly kicked a police officer and threatened to kill people. During her initial arraignment, the Palm Beach Post reported, a judge told the "The Real Housewives of New York City" star that four of the five charges she's facing — battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting with violence and two corruption by threat charges — are felonies.

Miles Teller went to San Diego for some fun in the sun and ended up behind bars. But his arrest is strange. The actor was arrested on June 18 in Pacific Beach, California, after he was "falling down drunk and refusing to cooperate with cops," TMZ reported. Miles, TMZ added, "lost his balance and almost fell into a traffic lane." He was then placed in handcuffs, but he still had trouble standing up. Miles was then taken to a detox center rather than jail to essentially sleep it off. But once he was there, he continued to be uncooperative and the staff allegedly refused to let him stay. It was then that he was formally arrested for public intoxication, which is a misdemeanor. Here's where it gets interesting: Miles said he wasn't arrested. "Went down to SD to see my buddy before he deployed," he wrote on Twitter. "I wasn't arrested I was detained bc there was no evidence to charge me with a crime." In October, police decided not to send the case to the city attorney. So no harm, no foul.

"Deadliest Catch" star Sig Hansen was arrested and booked into jail on May 18 after an incident in which he spit on an Uber driver in Seattle. A police report, obtained by TMZ, said the boat captain and his family were in an Uber when the app canceled his ride. Sig then tried to pay the driver $100 to complete the trip, but the driver refused and said it was against the rules. A reportedly infuriated Sig allegedly spit on the driver's head and the back of the driver's seat. He then got out of the vehicle and kicked the car. In a statement after the incident, Sig said, "I am terribly sorry for my behavior and am very embarrassed by it. I owe a bunch of people apologies, first and foremost to our Uber driver, who was just trying to get us home safely. I hope I can make that apology in person. I have no excuse, and accept responsibility for my actions. I made a boneheaded move last night, and I am sorry." The driver has filed a lawsuit against Sig.

On Oct. 7, a woman claimed that Nelly raped her on his tour bus in Washington. The rapper vehemently denied that claim. Still, he was booked on second-degree rape charges. However, a week later, the woman claimed that she wanted the charges dropped and refused to testify against Nelly. The rapper's lawyer said the woman's "reckless accusation, once investigated thoroughly, was exposed for what it was — a fabrication. A fabrication that has caused Nelly and his family to suffer emotionally and financially."

Over the years, Melissa Etheridge has made no secret of the fact that she uses cannabis — especially after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004. In August, she paid for it. On Aug. 17, the singer was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, after her tour bus was stopped by Customs and Border Protection agents in North Dakota and a dog sniffed out some cannabis oil. She paid a small fine and lawyer fees. She later told Variety she's a "rock star now" and that she's "in good company" with other artists who have been busted for drugs.

On Sept 10, Jean-Claude Van Damme's son Nicholas Van Varenberg was arrested in Tempe, Arizona, after he allegedly held his roommate at knifepoint. According to reports, local police were called after the youngest Van Damme punched an elevator in his building and then officers found a trail of blood to the apartment. Nicholas had an injury to his hand. The cops asked questions and left, but the roommate apparently ran down the building's stairs and claimed he escaped after being held at knifepoint by Nicholas. Nicholas was arrested and booked on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful imprisonment, marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Former One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson was arrested at LAX Airport in Los Angeles on March 4 after a scuffle with the paparazzi. The altercation went down while the singer and on-again love Eleanor Calder were collecting their luggage from baggage claim. Video showed Louis fighting with a photographer and then racing to Eleanor's defense as a photographer ran to cut her off. Eleanor covered her face with her hands while a paparazzo snapped at close range. Ultimately, Louis was placed under citizen's arrest (a misdemeanor) and taken into police custody. Cops reportedly detained him for an hour until around 1 a.m. but released him when he posted a $20,000 bond. In April, it was announced that he would not be charged.

Former Bravo star Jackie Warner was arrested on Feb. 24 for felony assault with a deadly weapon after crashing her car in West Hollywood, but she had no recollection of the accident. She said she was "sleep driving" after taking an Ambien at home. Jackie hit a pole with her car and when cops arrived, she backed up into a police car, causing a deputy to jump out of harm's way. Because of that, she was charged with assaulting an officer. On June 28, it was reported that all of her charges — two counts of DUI, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of hit and run — were dismissed after she struck a plea deal for a lesser offense.

Troubled heir Conrad Hilton was arrested on May 6 after allegedly stealing a Bentley that belonged to his ex-girlfriend's father, Rick Salomon — the same man with whom his sister, Paris Hilton, made an infamous sex tape. After taking the car from Rick's Los Angeles home, Conrad then reportedly drove it to his ex's house and tried to break in. Here's the thing: Hunter Salomon, the ex, has a restraining order against Conrad. He was rested for violating the restraining order and grand theft auto. His arrest was recorded and it showed the young Hilton shouting homophobic and racist slurs. While being arraigned in court several days later, Conrad hardly went quietly. At the end of the hearing, he told the judge, "I am sorry to the court and the entire state for disrespecting the court. I am not obsessed with hookers and I'm sorry."

Tiger Woods was arrested at 2 a.m. on May 29 after officers found him unconscious in his car, which was parked awkwardly on the side of the road in Jupiter, Florida. A video of the pro golfer's field sobriety test showed him wobbly and unable to walk straight. But it turned out he had no alcohol in his system. He told officers that he had taken Vicodin and Xanax. A toxicology report later said he had five drugs in his system, including Vicodin, Dilaudid, Xanax, Ambien and THC — the active ingredient in marijuana. As part of a plea deal, he agreed to plead guilty to reckless driving.

Mike Epps got into a brawl in a New Orleans casino on Feb. 18 and was arrested. The funnyman was in the Big Easy for the NBA All-Star game. Arrest affidavits detail the scrum, only saying the men were "involved in a physical altercation" where Mike and pal "struck" the victim and were arrested on a count of battery.

Where do we even begin?! On July 5, Rob Kardashian went on a profanity-laced Instagram tirade in which he accused ex Blac Chyna of cheating and drug use. He also posted nude pictures of her online. Like, fully nude. (Twitter and Instagram took them down.) A few days later, Chyna was granted a restraining order against Rob. She still reportedly plans to go forward with a revenge porn case. In September, Rob and sister Kylie Jenner sued Chyna for battery, assault and vandalism. In October, Chyna filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Rob and the whole Kardashian family, alleging they damaged her brand and career and more.

Travis Scott wanted too big a party, and police weren't having it. The rapper, who dates Kylie Jenner, was arrested in Arkansas on May 13 for inciting a riot. Police claim Travis was performing and encouraged fans to rush the stage, injuring several people. His team claimed that he never intended to put anyone in danger. He was booked for inciting a riot, endangering the welfare of a minor and disorderly conduct.

Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell was arrested in July in San Diego after he and several others involved with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals staged a protest inside SeaWorld during the famous "Orca Encounter" whale show, also known as the killer whale show. Clad in a "SeaWorld Sucks" T-shirt and armed with a megaphone, James began urging SeaWorld to release the orcas into seaside sanctuaries. He and his fellow protesters were handcuffed and taken into custody.

Ryan Phillippe's ex-girlfriend, model Elsie Hewitt, got an emergency protective order against the actor and accused him of physically abusing her on July 4. Elsie told police the actor "hit," "kicked," "punched," and "threw [Hewitt] down flight of stairs causing visible injuries to legs back, arms, shoulder and face," a police report said. Ryan has strongly denied her claims. A source close to the actor told TMZ that Elsie was the aggressor and attacked him a few days after they split and refused to leave his home. Prosecutors declined to pursue the case. TMZ reported that he plans to countersue for defamation or malicious prosecution. In a statement, his camp said, "As a staunch advocate for the health, well-being and equality of women, Ryan is completely devastated that these false allegations have been made and circulated. Domestic violence is an incredibly serious issue and fabricated and proven false claims should not be used to unjustly slander the falsely accused. The claims are false."

Heidi Klum's ex-boyfriend, Vito Schnabel, was arrested at the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert on Sept. 3 for being in possession of psychedelic mushrooms. TMZ reported that Vito was charged with distribution and manufacture of a controlled substance, which is a felony.

Former "Deadliest Catch" star Jake Harris was arrested on April 21 for stealing a car and drug possession. This one is weird. Jake had driven to Phoenix with a woman for a vacation. One morning, the woman woke up to find Jake and her car missing. Police discovered him the next day at a gas station. When cops searched him, they found Xanax and crystal meth on him. He was booked on one count of felony theft and two counts of felony drug possession. A month later, Jake didn't show up to court, so the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

He's best known for playing Shooter McGavin in "Happy Gilmore," but Christopher McDonald got busted for a different kind of driving on Oct. 28. The actor was arrested for DUI in Lake Arrowhead, California, after he allegedly drove his Porsche off the highway. In doing so, he took out a gas meter at a grocery store. TMZ said that during his arrest, he told police that he starred in "Happy Gilmore," but they didn't seem to care.

After his tour RV was pulled over for speeding, Corey Feldman was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, driving with a suspended license and speeding on Oct. 21 in Louisiana. Four other members of his band were booked on drug charges. Some reports said Corey was arrested, but the "Goonies" alum took to Twitter to correct those reports. "4 THE RECORD, I WAS NOT ARRESTED OR PUT IN JAIL," he tweeted. "I RECEIVED A MISDEMEANOR IN LOUISIANA, DUE 2 A MEMBER OF MY CREW HAVING MEDICAL MARIJUANA, WITH A LEGAL CA PRESCRIPTION, I HAD NOTHING ON ME, BUT WAS CHARGED BECAUSE ITS MY BUS. ALSO 5 OTHERS WERE CHARGED DUE 2 HAVING LEGAL MEDICINES WITHOUT THEIR PARTICULAR BOTTLES. NO ILLEGAL OR STREET DRUGS WERE FOUND ON THE BUS AT ALL! WHICH IS Y NOBODY SPENT THE NIGHT IN JAIL. HOWEVER WE WERE PROMISED THAT THESE CHARGES COULD ALL B DROPPED WITH PROOF OF PROPER SCRIPTS! IT WAS A BIT OF A GOOD OL SHAKEDOWN! AFTER WE PAID THEM IN CASH, THEY ASKED 4 PICS & AUTOGRAPHS, & THEN CALLED THE LOCAL PAPER 2 DO INTERVIEWS!"

"The Dukes of Hazzard" star Tom Wopat was arrested on Aug. 2 for indecent assault and battery in Massachusetts. Cops found a small amount of cocaine on him too. TMZ said Tom was accused of sticking his finger between the butt cheeks of an actress working with him in a small-town production of "42nd Street." He pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of indecent assault and battery as well as to misdemeanor drug possession. While denying any wrongdoing and referring to "unfortunate events," Tom's camp released a statement that stated he "will be taking personal time to address his ongoing struggle with substance abuse. While death and illness in the family, combined with the intensity of his recent schedule, certainly contributed to his misstep, Tom definitely understands that sobriety is the sole course for a successful future and will take immediate steps to achieve it."

Chris Brown's ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran filed court documents in February claiming the rapper vowed to kill her and alleged he'd beat her up before. A court granted her a domestic violence restraining order, preventing the singer from going near her, her mom and her brother. In her legal statements, the model-actress said that Chris "told a few people that he was going to kill me" because they are no longer together. Her documents allege that the singer also told friends he was going to "take me out" and had "threatened to shoot me." Karrueche claimed that Chris "punched me in my stomach twice" and "pushed me down the stairs." Chris denied her allegations, but in June, a judge granted Karrueche a five-year restraining order against the R&B star.

Meek Mill rode his motorcycle all the way to the jail. The rapper was arrested on Aug. 17 after he allegedly recklessly drove a motorcycle through the streets of New York City. He was charged with reckless endangerment. Witnesses said they saw a group of people popping wheelies and riding dangerously down the street. TMZ reported that law enforcement turned to social media to identify Meek, who was riding without a helmet. On Nov. 2, TMZ reported that because of this incident as well as a March arrest for fighting at a St. Louis airport, the music star could be facing nearly two years in prison for violating probation from a previous crime. Then, in March 6, it happened: A judge ruled that because of his fight and reckless driving arrest, he'd violated his probation, and he was sentenced to two to four years in prison.

Lou Diamond Phillips was arrested for driving while intoxicated in Sinton, Texas, on Nov. 3. The "La Bamba" star reportedly asked a police officer for directions, and the cop suspected he'd been drinking. Police said the actor's blood alcohol level was .20, which is more than twice the legal limit for driving.

Comedian Artie Lange seemed to know he did wrong. Artie was arrested in March in New Jersey for possession of heroin, cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Artie actually reported the news himself, without getting into the details. "Hey guys. I was arrested. I'm doing great. Physically too! I'm in St. Louis & will be on stage this weekend at The Funnybone! Love u all!..," he tweeted on March 17. A spokesman for the Hoboken Police Department told the Hudson Reporter on March 17, "Officers responded to the area of 14th Street and Shipyard Lane [where Lange lives] on a report of someone attempting to enter a vehicle that was parked inside the garage. Officer Zeszotarski was able to observe what appeared to be suspected heroin and cocaine inside the vehicle. A male later identified as the defendant approached the officers and confirmed it was his vehicle… A search of his person also revealed several more bags of suspected heroin along with cocaine."

"Buffy the Vampire" star Nicholas Brendon has long had issues with the law, and that was no different in 2017. On Oct. 12, the actor was arrested in Palm Springs, California, after an alleged drunken attack on his girlfriend. TMZ said Brendon and the woman were at a hotel bar when she got up to go back to their room. We're told Nicholas sat her back down by yanking her arm. Again, she got up, and this time he pulled her down by the hair. An employee called the police. He was arrested for felony domestic violence.