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American Morning

Showbiz Today Reports: Paula Poundstone to be Arraigned on Child Endangerment Charges

Aired July 03, 2001 - 10:41   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Comedian Paula Poundstone is indeed scheduled to be arraigned this morning in California after a judge granted her request to move up a court appearance originally set for July 27. Poundstone's attorney says the comic is eager to -- quote -- "begin the process of clearing her name."

CNN's Sherri Sylvester reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA POUNDSTONE, COMEDIAN: I have faith that the truth is the right thing.

SHERRI SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Paula Poundstone was arrested last Wednesday on felony charges of committing lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14 and with child endangerment involving four other children. The 41-year-old comedian became a foster mother in 1993 and is currently a single parent to five children, three of whom she adopted. The charges were filed after an investigation by Santa Monica police and the L.A. County Department of Family Services.

Poundstone has kept all of her children out of the public eye, as she explained in this 1993 interview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, 1993)

POUNDSTONE: I can't say his name, but I can tell you because the foster program -- one of the neat things about it is that they go to great pains to protect the privacy of families and their kids and all of that stuff. I call him "Senator" anyways so -- because I'm trying to head him in the right direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SYLVESTER: But her family life, which has included as many as eight children, has been the subject of her stand-up.

POUNDSTONE: He can't be photographed publicly because he's a foster baby. So I dressed him as a dalmatian.

I'm a foster parent and I couldn't watch the O.J. trials, I was too busy cleaning up vomit. And probably most single parents missed the O.J. trial entirely.

SYLVESTER: Other than her stand-up work, Poundstone's recent career includes cartoon voice-overs and a children's audio book, as well as numerous charity appearances.

All five children in her care have been taken into county custody. The oldest is 12, the youngest under 1 year. Poundstone requested to move up her arraignment so that, in the words of her attorney, Steven Crone, "She will finally be able to learn the basis of the charges brought by the DA and begin the process of clearing her name."

If convicted Paula, Poundstone faces up to 13 years and four months in prison.

Sherri Sylvester, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OKWU: Poundstone will be arraigned after 11:30 a.m. Eastern time. We'll have the latest for you on our "Showbiz Today Reports" throughout the day.

And next hour we'll talk to "A.I.'s" robotic star Haley Joel Osment.

I'm Michael Okwu reporting from New York.

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