TV Avowal Pins Female Grappler

A female wrestler from La Jolla pinned herself to the mat when she admitted on the TV show “The People’s Court” that she had punched another woman in the nose outside the ring, prosecutors said in Vista Superior Court.

A tape of the TV show was key evidence in the criminal case against “oil wrestler” Alice Ann Elesky, said prosecutor Deborah Einhorn.

“She admitted to the whole thing in ‘People’s Court,’ ” Einhorn said. “If I had to, I would have brought in Rusty the bailiff and Judge (Joseph) Wapner to testify.”

That wasn’t necessary, however, because Elesky, 22, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery last month. She also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of using someone else’s driver’s license to get into the bar where she struck Kristina Ellen Kueltzo.

Elesky was sentenced Monday to 30 days of community service and three years probation and fined $1,000. She declined to comment outside of court.

In court, Kueltzo said Elesky broke her nose with an unprovoked blow, leading to three reconstructive surgeries and a $6,400 medical bill.

Elesky also was the loser in the civil case played out on “The People’s Court” in May. Wapner, a retired judge, ordered Elesky to pay $5,000 to Kueltzo.

Elesky, who wrestles other women in oil-covered rings, said on the show that she struck Kueltzo after the woman twice bumped her on purpose inside a nightclub.

“I didn’t realize I was quite that strong, but I guess I am,” Elesky told the show’s host, Doug Llewellyn, after the hearing. “It won’t happen again. I guess I learned my lesson.”