McGuire enters plea deal in dispute with police

Bill Gang

Thursday, April 1, 1999 | 11 a.m.

Legendary singing star Phyllis McGuire will avoid a conviction on criminal charges stemming from a bizarre chain of events after her driver crossed paths with Metro Police detectives.

In a deal announced today by her attorney John Moran Jr., misdemeanor charges of obstruction of justice will be dropped after McGuire donates $5,000 to the Injured Police Officer's Fund and performs 40 hours of community service.

"That will resolve the case in the city of Las Vegas and Clark County," Moran said, adding that the plea bargain was negotiated directly with District Attorney Stewart Bell.

McGuire was not present at today's hearing in Justice of the Peace James Bixler's courtroom, but Moran said she is expected to appear April 13 when the case returns to court for final resolution.

As a procedural step, Moran pleaded not guilty on behalf of McGuire.

McGuire originally was arrested on gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor counts in connection with the March 24 incident. Because the 68-year-old performer was booked on a gross misdemeanor charge -- which ultimately was not pursued -- the case was handled by Justice Court rather than Las Vegas Municipal Court, which handles only misdemeanors.

Events in the case began as a routine investigation for detectives in the Smith's Food and Drug Stores parking lot off Rancho Drive and Charleston Boulevard and ended after a short auto pursuit a few blocks away.

A piece of paper passed between the driver of a white four-door Cadillac and a man under surveillance in the shopping center prompted detectives to follow the vehicle out of the parking lot and finally stop it at the gated entrance to Rancho Circle where McGuire lives.

The driver, Gerald Earl, 28, identified himself and explained that he was McGuire's bodyguard.

But when police asked McGuire to get out of the car, Sgt. Clint Robinson said, "She refused and instead was unruly and combative."

In his report, Officer Shannon McHale said McGuire was slurring her words, appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol.

McHale said he moved a bag that McGuire was grabbing for and she then got out of the Cadillac, "screaming, waving and flailing her arms" and striking the officer in the right shoulder.

McHale said he grabbed McGuire's arms to keep her from striking again and said McGuire hit him in the right cheek with her head.

"I informed McGuire that she was under arrest for battery on a police officer," McHale said. "McGuire then renewed her attempts to get away and was placed in handcuffs."

McGuire allegedly continued to scream at the officers, kick McHale's right leg and attempt to kick other officers while being put in the patrol car -- all of which police say they recorded on an audiotape.

McGuire eventually was booked into Clark County Detention Center on one count of obstructing a police officer, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

McGuire was released on her own recognizance.

McGuire's celebrity stems from the 1950s when she and her two sisters formed the McGuire Sisters, a singing trio whose hits included "Sugartime" and "Sincerely."

McGuire performed at Gov. Kenny Guinn's inaugural ball in January in Las Vegas. She and her sisters were inducted into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame at the Tropicana hotel-casino in February.