Everyone makes mistakes, right? That’s definitely true, even for celebrities. This year's college admissions drama that has featured actors like Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin is proof that even the rich and famous aren’t above the law. There are tons of our favorite celebrities who’ve been arrested and even served time behind bars for breaking the law. While some have only gotten into minor legal mishaps, such as poor driving or public intoxication, others have been part of huge misfortunes that have gotten them years in the slammer. The twenty celebrities that made this list are all famous parents who have spent at least one night at jail (and we bet they have regrets)- and five of them are still atoning for their legal problems!
20 Blac Chyna
Blac Chyna- who shares a son with Tyga and a daughter with Rob Kardashian- briefly did a stint in jail in February of 2016. The reality star was arrested for public intoxication as well as for possession. The cops were called after Chyna got into an argument with a server who refused to serve her any further.
19 Mark Wahlberg
Although he seems like the perfect family man nowadays, Mark wasn’t as clean-cut in his younger years. In 1988, when he was only 16-years old, the celebrity got into a physical dispute with two other men that ended with one of them losing consciousness. Mark spent 45 days in jail and later publicly apologized to the man and his family.
18 Lil’ Kim
Lil’ Kim, who’s a mom to a 4-year daughter, had to spend time behind bars in 2005. The rapper was handed a yearlong sentence after she was found guilty of lying to a grand jury. Kim was eventually released early the following year, though she had to spend the following thirty days under house arrest.
17 Jenelle Evans
Teen Mom 2 star Jenelle Evans has been arrested various times throughout the years and spent a few nights in jail. She’s faced charges for everything from possession to domestic disputes- including multiple incidents that involved her baby daddies or their new partners! Most recently, the reality star lost custody of her three children husband bragged about offing the family’s dog via social media.
16 Khloe Kardashian
Khloe Kardashian, who welcomed her daughter True last year, had a run-in with the law in 2008 after she violated her probation following a DUI arrest. Keeping Up with the Kardashians cameras caught the moment her family drove her to jail so she could begin her 30-day sentence. However, Khloe was released less than three hours after surrendering herself due to overcrowding.
15 Robert Downey Jr.
Actor Robert Downey Jr. has been open about his past struggles with substances. In 1997, he served six months behind bars for missing a court-ordered substance test. He then spent a full year behind bars in 1999 for missing yet another test. In 2014, Robert’s teenage son Indio was similarly arrested for possession and almost spent time in jail before opting to go to treatment, instead.
14 Martha Stewart
The world was shocked when Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in the slammer back in 2004 for charges related to insider trading, People reports. Specifically, the mom-of-one was charged with conspiracy, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and for also giving incorrect information to federal investigators.
13 Reese Witherspoon
In 2013, mother-of-three Reese Witherspoon got into a verbal altercation with several police officers after they pulled over her husband for driving in the wrong lane. She was eventually arrested for disorderly conduct and booked before being released several hours later. The actress later released a statement publicly apologizing for her actions.
12 Farah Abraham
Teen Mom alum Farrah Abraham was first arrested in 2013 for a DUI. The reality star was sentenced to probation as well as fined $500. However, the mom-of-one made headlines once again last year when she was taken into custody over an altercation at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Though she could’ve spent upwards of two years in jail, People reports, she was eventually struck a plea deal that included community service.
11 Nicole Richie
Nicole Richie, who shares two children with her husband Joel Madden, infamously spent 82 minutes in jail after being picked up for a DUI in 2007. She was originally sentenced to four days behind bars, though overcrowding led to the socialite being released early. She remained on probation for several years afterward.
10 Ryan Edwards
Teen Mom star Ryan Edwards has been in an out of jail in the last two years for his unfortunate substance habit. He was recently released from jail this past April after being picked up in January for violating his parole. Ryan shares a 10-year old son, Bentley, with his ex-girlfriend Maci Bookout. His wife Mackenzie Standifer welcomed their first child together, son Jagger, earlier this year (while he was in jail!).
9 Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne, who’s a father of four, had a brief stint behind bars back in 2010. The rapper served approximately eight months of his original one-year sentence at New York’s infamous Riker Island after he was charged with possession. He later opened up about the experience in his book Gone ‘Til November: A Journal of Rikers Island.
8 Heather Locklear
Mother-of-one Heather Locklear has had various run-ins with the law mostly related to DUIs an public intoxication. Just last year, the actress spent a little over 12 hours in jail after police were called to her home over a domestic dispute. Sources told People she’d been “extremely intoxicated” and “arguing with friends and family.” The following fall, she checked into a treatment facility after being put on a 5150 hold.
7 Whiz Khalifa
Whiz Khalifa- who shares a son with his ex-wife Amber Rose- found himself behind bars in 2014 after TSA agents found substances in his luggage at a Texas airport. The rapper managed to post a selfie from inside his jail cell, which has since gone viral. He was released shortly after his bond was posted.
6 Tim Allen
Tim Allen became one of the most beloved dads on television thanks to his long-running stint on Home Improvement. However, the star had a difficult past. In 1978, the father-of-two was arrested at an airport after substances were discovered in his luggage, which led to him serving two years and four months in a Minnesota correctional facility.
And here are the 5 who are still in jail...
5 Teresa And Joe Giudice
The Real Housewives of New Jersey alums faced charges for bankruptcy fraud in October 2014, which landed both of them behind bars. Since the couple are parents to four young daughters, they were allowed to serve their time separately.
Teresa spent 11-months in jail before being released in December of 2015. Her husband was released this past March after serving 41 months, though he’s still on probation. Joe is also currently facing deportation back to Italy due to his crimes.
4 Bill Cosby
The Cosby Show was forever ruined for fans when more than sixty women came forward beginning in the mid-2010s alleging misconduct by the actor. After a trial that lasted over a year, the actor was eventually found guilty of wrongdoing in September 2018 and is on year one of his ten-year jail sentence.
3 Apollo Nida
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Apollo Nida, who was married to Phaedra Parks until 2017, is currently serving an 8-year sentence for mail, wire, and bank fraud charges. The former couple shares two children together. While Apollo first entered the slammer in 2014, there is talk that he may be released as early as 2020.
2 Suge Knight
Former record producer and football player Suge Knight is a father to five children. However, what the celebrity is best known for nowadays is the fact that he’s serving a lengthy sentence. In 2018, he pled no contest for his involvement in a traffic accident. He’s currently waiting out his 28-year sentence behind bars.
1 Phil Spector
Father-of-three Phil Spector originally made a name for himself as a music producer and songwriter. But nowadays, the star is unfortunately known for his involvement in the 2003 passing of actress Lana Clarkson. He was eventually convicted in 2009 following a mistrial and has been in jail ever since.
Sources: People, Nicki Swift, E! News
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