Local News in Brief : Attack by Penn Alleged
A pair of teen-agers arrested by actor Sean Penn for alleged trespassing were victims of an unprovoked attack by Penn, defense attorneys said during the opening day of the youths’ trial.
Penn made a citizen’s arrest when he found the two 17-year-olds and Richard Barcelo, 20, of Chino Hills at his Malibu home when he returned from a shopping trip with his wife, rock star Madonna, and her brother on Jan. 20.
Barcelo and the teen-agers were booked for investigation of prowling and trespassing. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said Penn hit Barcelo with a bottle of tofu salad dressing after he swung at Penn.
The trial at Sylmar Juvenile Hall is closed to the public, but attorneys for the defendants said outside court that they are arguing that Penn initiated the attack.
“These kids were like everyone else in the history of Hollywood,” said attorney Jo Ann Duty Stipkovich, representing one of the teen-agers. “They wanted to see their idol, Madonna, and it got out of hand. I’d hate to ask every adult I know if they wouldn’t have followed Clark Gable.”
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