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Yancy Butler at recent court appearance

Yancy Butler - Actress finds legal trouble of her own

02/14/2007 - By TRACY KENNEDY - Register Citizen Staff

BANTAM - Turner Network Television's "Witchblade" star Yancy Butler, who last week accused an ex-boyfriend of stalking her, was ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous on Tuesday in Bantam Superior Court after state police arrested her Sunday on a disorderly conduct charge.

The actress was ordered by Judge Richard Marano to attend meetings seven times a week until her next court appearance March 8. She was released on a promise to appear, but Marano ordered Butler to follow conditions set by the court Family Services Division, which may include counseling and attending specified programs.

"She is taking the proper steps to address her issues," said Larry Peck, Butler's attorney, who was appointed for the proceeding.

Butler, 36, was held for two days in state police custody following her arrest at 1:53 p.m. Sunday. Butler was charged with disorderly conduct and held on a minimal $500 bond for arraignment in court Tuesday.

State police were called to a Sharon home where she lives with her boyfriend, Earl Ward Jr., 53, after Butler allegedly dialed 911. Butler complained Ward would not return her car keys or let her leave, and Ward explained Butler was intoxicated and afraid what would happen if she drove a vehicle in a drunken state, according to a police report. Butler reportedly threw items at Ward, angry he would not comply with her wishes, according to the report.

Butler's actions worried her alcohol rehabilitation sponsor and Ward, who told police Butler smoked crack cocaine Friday night and drank liquor all day Saturday, police said.
Butler was arrested for disorderly intoxication in Florida in 2003 and was ordered to undergo an alcohol treatment program, but has no convictions in Connecticut where she has lived for eight months.

Butler, a Greenwich, N.Y., native and daughter of Joe Butler, ex-drummer of the band Lovin' Spoonful, starred in the films "Striking Range" in 2006 with Lou Diamond Phillips and 1994's "Hard Target" with Wesley Snipes.

When Marano told Butler that Peck was appointed only for the arraignment, and that she would have to hire an attorney, she answered, "Yes your honor." She was warned to surrender all firearms in her possession to police while the case was pending. A protective order was issued prohibiting her from causing any problem for Ward, the alleged victim in the case.

Butler's address was sealed from the public on the prosecutor's request. 

"We ask that her resident address be suppressed from the court record because she has been stalked by a defendant in this court," Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Andrew Wittstein said.

Butler's former boyfriend, James Driscoll, 48, 2630 Mill Ave., Apt. 2N, Brooklyn, N.Y. was arrested by state police and charged with second-degree breach of peace, second-degree harassment, criminal violation of a restraining order and first-degree stalking. Driscoll allegedly created fliers signed "Bitter in Brooklyn" containing lewd and defamatory comments about Butler and leaving them on car windshields at an alcohol treatment center in Kent. 

Driscoll agreed to have no contact with Butler during an arraignment hearing in the Bantam court and in the Litchfield Superior Court where Butler filed an application for a restraining order.

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Yancy Butler - Actress granted alcohol rehab program 

06/09/2007

By TRACY KENNEDY - Register Citizen Staff

BANTAM - The criminal cases against local film and television star Yancy Butler may soon be resolved. 

Bantam Superior Court Judge Richard Marano granted Butler's request for an alcohol education program Friday. Butler's attorney, William Conti, told the judge that Butler arranged to attend a private drug treatment facility instead of the state program. The program is available for defendants with no prior convictions.

The 36-year-old actress starred in the series "Witchblade" and earlier starred opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme in "Hard Target" and with Wesley Snipes in "Drop Zone."
If Butler successfully completes the 15 classes within the next year, the case could be dismissed, Conti said.

Butler was arrested on East Street in Sharon and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to maintain operation in the established lane on March 13 at 6:56 p.m. Police allegedly saw her driving her 1994 Saab 900 erratically and reported Butler drove off the left side of the road and struck 20 feet of wire rope guide rail. Butler was wearing her seat belt and the air bag in the Saab was deployed. The Saab received front-end damage and was towed, police said.

Butler was under the influence of a combination of prescription drugs, according to a lab report.

"It wasn't so much the alcohol as the legal drugs that she was taking for the defendant's condition," Assistant State's Attorney Cyndi Palermo said.
Butler's compliance will also determine how a domestic violence case pending against her is resolved. In February, Butler allegedly had a dispute with a friend over her intention to drive when she may have been intoxicated. The case may also be dismissed if Butler meets all of the conditions for counseling ordered by the court family violence program.

Butler has received treatment since the arrest, Conti said at an earlier court appearance. 

"She is a wonderful woman who wants to get on with her life and will do what the court orders," Conti said. "It's not easy and her work should be commended."
Conti would not comment on the upcoming trial against Butler's ex-boyfriend, 49-year-old James Driscoll, of Brooklyn, N.Y., who was arrested in February after he allegedly posted more than 50 fliers containing lewd and defamatory comments about the local celebrity on car windshields parked at a Kent treatment center. Driscoll turned down an offer to resolve the case with a suspended jail sentence and conditional discharge on one of the misdemeanor charges against him, telling Marano he wants a trial. The case is scheduled for Sept. 25.

Driscoll is prohibited from having any contact with Butler, according to two court orders. He was also arrested in New York and held in Riverhead Jail in Riverhead, N.Y., on the charge of aggravated harassment. Butler told the court Driscoll circulated the fliers in New York, harassed her mother in East Hampton, N.Y., with numerous phone calls and allegedly poured a substance in her gas tank that caused her mother's car to break down in the middle the highway.