The actor with great movies under his belt pleaded no contest today for a battery involving domestic violence.  The conviction means that Mel will be unable to own or possess any firearms for at leats 10 years, and have to stay out of trouble or face up to 6 months in jail .  The deal requires that Mel  spend three years on probation, undergo a year of domestic violence counseling, and perform 2 days of community service.  Providing he does what he is supposed to do,  and doesn’t get into further trouble, he won’t have to make another court appearance in the case.  The actor appeared today in before the Judge, in Court,  but said almost nothing during the arraignment and plea, he did acknowledge  that he would give up his right to a trial.  The victim was not present, nor was any statement read to the Court pursuant to Marcy’s Law at the time of sentencing.

This disposition ends the months of legal wrangling that began last summer when Grigorieva, a Russian musician, reported Gibson had physically abused her during a fight at his Malibu home in at the end of last year.  When she finally reported the crime to the cops, the couple were engaged in a very heated custody battle and the actor soon accused her of attempting to shake him down during negotiations for custody arrangements involving their daughter.