In the news

Police officer accused of selling celebrity information to tabloids

A Los Angeles police officer used department computers to access confidential law enforcement records of celebrities and sold the information to tabloids, according to a lawsuit recently settled by the city.

Officer Kelly Chrisman, a 13-year veteran, acknowledged looking up the information, but said he did so at the direction of his superiors, according to internal Los Angeles Police Department records. Attorney Christopher Darden said his client never sold the information to anyone.

The lawsuit prompted the department to launch its own investigation, which the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday turned up "hundreds of hits" on the names of famous people, including Jennifer Aniston, Pamela Anderson, Sharon Stone, Sean Penn, Meg Ryan, Kobe Bryant and Nicole Brown Simpson.

Personal information available through the department's computer system goes far beyond background on those with criminal records. Officers can access government agency files on individuals' driving records, birth dates, ownership of vehicles, physical descriptions, Social Security numbers, restraining orders and, in some cases, unlisted phone numbers.

The lawsuit was filed by Chrisman's former girlfriend, Cyndy Truhan, who is also the ex-wife of former Los Angeles Dodgers star Steve Garvey. In March, the city paid $387,500 to settle the suit.

Police investigators said they could not confirm the 34-year-old officer collected the data for personal financial gain. Chrisman was placed on home duty, similar to paid leave, while the allegations are investigated.

Area woman leaves 'Bachelor'

There's one less local face left on ABC's latest edition of The Bachelor, following Palm Harbor resident Christina Sztanko's decision to leave the contest before the second rose ceremony, in which bachelor Andrew Firestone was to eliminate five more women from the contest.

Saying she would never feel attracted to Firestone, Sztanko, 24, bowed out of the contest, leaving 14 women vying for 10 roses. Kirsten Buschbacher, 23, of Valrico remains a contender as the second woman shown receiving a rose from Firestone during Wednesday's episode.

The reality romance show, taped earlier this year in California, features Firestone choosing one woman from a field of 25.

Madonna to perform on MTV

Madonna will perform songs from her new album, American Life, in an MTV special in which she's also expected to talk about the antiwar video she created for the title song. Madonna on Stage and on the Record is scheduled for April 22, the same day her album hits stores. The hourlong special will be taped in front of a studio audience that day and is set to air at 10

Clarkson album due out Tuesday

Kelly Clarkson gets a hand from a host of high-profile songwriters and producers on her debut album, the 12-track Thankful, due Tuesday from RCA. The American Idol queen is joined by former competitor Tamyra Gray on You Thought Wrong, a songwriting collaboration between Clarkson and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.

In TV news ...

Former Roc star Charles S. Dutton will star as Montgomery County police Chief Charles Moose in the USA original film The Beltway, reports Zap2it.com.

The Beltway focuses on the 22 days where snipers terrorizes the Washington area. For many people, Moose became the public face of manhunt that was both infuriating, but ultimately successful.

Shooting suspects John Muhammed and Lee Boyd Malvo will be played by Bobby Hosea (The District) and Trent Cameron (American Dreams).

ALSO ...: Angel's David Boreanaz returns for the series finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, May 20 on UPN. ... The third -- and likely final -- season of MTV's The Osbournes premieres June 10. ... Fox has picked up Malcolm in the Middle for a fifth season, TVGuide.com reports.

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