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Reese Witherspoon
Article - Photographer 'innocent' in Reese trial 2005
Thu, 13 Oct 2005

Photographer 'innocent' in Reese trial
by Marc Lavine

A paparazzo accused of using overly-aggressive tactics to photograph movie star Reese Witherspoon pleaded innocent yesterday to assault and other charges after allegedly hitting a child with his camera. The case marks the latest in a string of confrontations between celebrities and the photographers who make a lucrative living snapping them in Los Angeles that led to California's movie star governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, passing a new law last month that boosted civil penalties against wayward paparazzi.

Todd Wallace (44) denied six charges linked to an incident in which he is accused of disrupting a birthday celebration for the 'Legally Blonde' actress's six-year-old daughter at a Disney theme park near Los Angeles. Wallace allegedly struck a five-year-old girl with his camera and pushed two employees of California Adventure Park near Disneyland as he worked to get shots of Witherspoon and her party on September 2. The photographer faces four counts of battery against two park employees as well as against the girl and her mother, who is a friend of Witherspoon. He is also charged with false imprisonment and causing a child to suffer and inflicting unjustifiable mental suffering under circumstances and conditions other than those likely to produce great bodily harm or death. He could be sentenced to up to three and a half years in jail if convicted, Assistant City Attorney Pat Ahle said.

Wallace has been to prison before, But Wallace told reporters outside the courtroom in the Orange County town of Fullerton, southeast of Los Angeles, that he has photos and video from the incident that show he did nothing wrong. Wallace was initially issued a citation after the incident for allegedly using his body to shove two park workers who were trying to get the party away from him, according to Anaheim police Sergeant Rick Martinez. The snapper had taken photos of the actress from a distance, and the picture-taking did not become intrusive until he got close to the group and allegedly became aggressive, frightening members of the party, Martinez said. Members of the party got to a back stage area, where Disney security and Anaheim police were called, Martinez said. The complaint against Wallace listed 13 aliases and a number of different dates of birth allegedly used by the photographer, according to prosecutor Pat Ahle.

Wallace, whose only listed address is a Beverly Hills post office box, served more than four years in prison after being convicted in 1993 of second-degree burglary and receiving goods by fraud, state prison records showed. Orange County Superior Court Commissioner George Berenson released Wallace on his own recognisance pending his next court appearance on October 28.

In response to the incident, former action star Schwarzenegger last month signed into law tough new civil penalties against paparazzi who commit assaults while pursuing their famous subjects. The law, supported by Screen Actors Guild members including Witherspoon, boosted the level of damages against paparazzi who commit assault and also takes aim at the snappers' bosses.

Starchives - Reese Witherspoon - Article - Photographer 'innocent' in Reese trial 2005
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