Lou Diamond Phillips Charged With Duffing Up Girlfriend

There's nothing sadder than stories about domestic violence, except for stories about domestic violence that directly involve the bloke from La Bamba - Lou Diamond Phillips has been charged with domestic battery.

Lou Diamond Phillips was charged yesterday with one count of domestic battery as a result of a fight he had last month with the girlfriend he lives with but nobody seems to know about. If he's found guilty of his charge, Lou Diamond Phillips could spend one year in jail. Yes, we know what you're thinking: if Lou Diamond Phillips goes to jail, who'll be the voice of Forge in all those X Men videogames?

Despite probably being the least famous man on the face of the Earth, Lou Diamond Phillips always seems to be where it's at - and by 'always' we mean 'twice'. Lou Diamond Phillips - the nickname 'Diamond' comes from the fact that he's well hard, turns invisible when dropped in water and has superlative thermodynamic stability - was the man who carelessly blabbed about Gwyneth Paltrow being pregnant again and is also being credited with being the man who introduced Matt LeBlanc to his wife, kickstarting a marriage that flourished for a while before ending in a nasty split and bitter divorce. Nice going, Lou Diamond Phillips!

But now, at last, Lou Diamond Phillips is in the news on his own terms again. For, um, apparently beating up his live-in girlfriend. Oh. E! Online reports:

According to prosecutors, in the wee hours of the morning on Aug. 11, the alleged victim locked herself in the couple's bathroom after their verbal sparring match turned "physical" and called 911. Authorities said that Phillips' girlfriend had scrapes on her knees after being allegedly pushed and dragged through the house. Police arrived at about 2 a.m. and arrested Phillips on suspicion of cohabitant abuse. Bail was originally set at $50,000 but the La Bamba star was released on his own recognisance after spending several hours in custody. At the time Phillips' rep called the incident a "misunderstanding." The charge Phillips is facing, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Arraignment has been set for Oct. 18.

October 18 is a date that you'll all be wanting to jot down in your diaries. By being arraigned for allegedly bashing his girlfriend - and the press covering the event - October 18 will mark the day that Lou Diamond Phillips will finally be promoted to the title of 'Second Least Famous Member Of The Young Guns Cast.' Eat that, Casey Siemaszko! 

Read more:

Lou Diamond's Battery Charge - E! Online

[story by Stuart Heritage]