John Rich photo by Frank Ockenfels, courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.
June 1, 2009 — John Rich and Reba McEntire both saw their names attached to major stories about legal issues in the last week, but for completely different reasons.
John turned himself in for arrest in Nashville in an ongoing dispute with a former "Nashville Star" contestant. John’s been sued for assault and harassment and has in turn filed a defamation suit against his accuser, Jared Ashley.
Reba meanwhile was listed among dozens of people who asked a judge to show leniency to Oklahoma businessman Steve Phipps in a federal conspiracy case.
The long arm of the law touched country in the following ways:
• John voluntarily went downtown in Nashville on Thursday to be arrested for assault and harassment. He also issued a statement, saying he refused to meet Jared’s demand of $2.9 million to settle the case. John said his accuser is trying "to take advantage of another person’s success and try to get something for nothing." Jared has accused John of threatening him on two occasions when they crossed paths at bars; he also says John punched him in the face at John’s Music City club The Spot. John insisted the charges are "frivolous" and predicted, "I will be completely exonerated at the end of the day."
• Reba added her signature to 45 others, according to the Associated Press, seeking leniency for Steve Phipps, a former classmate who admitted in court that he paid kickbacks to state legislators who were in a position to give government business to his company. Steve’s son is currently an intern for Reba’s Nashville company, Starstruck Entertainment. Steve was ultimately sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison, The Oklahoman reported. He and a state senator were ordered to pay nearly $280,000 in restitution to the state. Steve was also fined $50,000.
• Pop record producer Phil Spector was sentenced to 19 years in prison Friday for the 2003 death of Lana Clarkson at his castle-styled home in the Alhambra district of Los Angeles. Now he has placed the home on the market, according to The London Times, in an attempt to raise cash to appeal the conviction. The property’s value has apparently dropped from $1.3 million to $800,000. Spector is noted for his Wall of Sound production on recordings by the Righteous Brothers, the Crystals and the Ronettes. He does have some country credentials. Two songs he wrote went on to become country hits: "Be My Baby" for Jody Miller in 1972; and "To Know Him Is To Love Him" for Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in 1987.
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