Despite the severity of the charges against Paula Poundstone–which include child endangerment and lewd acts with a child under 14–the veteran stand-up comedienne was also relaxed enough to enjoy a few chuckles with a slew of supporters who surrounded her during her brief appearance Aug. 26 in Santa Monica Superior Court. And if the reaction I witnessed from her entourage is any indication, the last few weeks of scandalous, mysterious and career-threatening accusations and alcohol rehab haven’t dulled her famously razor-sharp wit in the slightest.
As Poundstone waited for Judge Bernard Komins to open the morning’s docket and set the date for her preliminary hearing, she casually traded one-liners with a group of several faithful friends–so many they nearly outnumbered the media–who showed up to bolster her confidence. In fact, the conversation was so ebullient that the bailiff had to call the courtroom to order twice as the judge entered.
But despite her cheery demeanor before Hizzonor, mum–not mom–was the word for Poundstone once she exited the courtroom and faced the assembled media outside. She stood silently holding hands with her attorney Steven Cron as Cron told reporters he was confident she’d beat the charges against her, charges that could put her behind bars for 13 years.
Cron also clarified that while he previously said Poundstone’s previous alcohol abuse and ongoing stint in rehab (which he said commenced before her arrest) would play a factor in the court case, he in no way intended his comments to suggest that she had in fact abused any her children. “Paula’s not guilty, and the charges are unfounded,” he said.
Still, in court the judge indicated that Cron has additional evidence to review before the trial begins, and despite the high confidence exhibited by the defendant on Monday, it remains to be seen if anyone will be laughing at the case’s outcome.
