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The Hollywood financier was arrested again for drunk driving, speeding and driving on a suspended license — back in October, while still on probation for an earlier conviction, the New York Times just reported in a bit of a scoop. Michael Cieply and Brooks Barnes at the NYT's Arts Beat blog:
Ryan Kavanaugh, one of Hollywood’s most prominent film financiers, was arrested for drunk driving, speeding, and driving with a suspended license in October, while still on probation for an earlier conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol.The new charges confront Mr. Kavanaugh with a fight to avoid penalties that can include jail time. That is an unwelcome complication for Relativity Media, of which he is chief executive: The company is embroiled in litigation with Citigroup, a major entertainment industry lender, and is wrestling with a credit crunch that has made it difficult to finance big studio films.
Mr. Kavanaugh, who turned 34 on Thursday, has business ties to nearly every major movie studio.
Kavanaugh was controversial earlier this year for trying to use his ties to Sheriff Lee Baca to win lenient treatment. And of course, he's the guy who was embroiled in a legal dispute over money with PR exec Michael Sitrick.