AP Beats Tabloids to Mel Gibson Scoop

The LA District Attorney’s office is reportedly “furious,” telling Radar Online that Oksana Grigorieva should not have found out via the media this morning that Mel Gibson will be pleading guilty later this week in court to misdemeanor battery, with no prison time. The deal relates to an alleged January 2010 physical altercation between the actor and his former girlfriend.

The juicy courtroom details were leaked via an AP item by Anthony McCartney:

Gibson will appear in person to enter the plea, according to the person who was not authorized to discuss details of the agreement publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Gibson was expected to be formally charged with battery this week, and the agreement could allow the actor-director to avoid jail time.

It may be a hollow victory, but score one for the dusty, trench coat wearing old guard. This morning, via Twitter, McCartney was humbly accepting the praise of USC Annenberg’s Gretchen Parker and Sports Illustrated reporter Richard Deitsch.