STUDIO CITY—Daniele Watts, 28, best known for her appearances on the TV show, “Weeds,” was charged Tuesday, October 21 with lewd conduct. The actress, who also appeared in the Quentin Taratino film “Django Unchained” was handcuffed and briefly detained last month for indecent exposure.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a witness reported a man and a woman having sex in a parked silver Mercedes with the door open outside of the CBS Studio Center. Watts’ boyfriend, local chef Brian James Lucas, was also charged with one count of lewd conduct, according to the City Attorney’s office.
Watts denies any wrongdoing. In fact, she claims that she is a victim of racial profiling due to the fact that her boyfriend is white and she is African-American.
In response to the subsequent media explosion, responding officer, Sergeant Jim Parker leaked the audiotape of the incident to TMZ.
In the audio recording, Watts can be heard asking Parker, “Do you know how many times the cops have been called just because I’m black and he’s white?” She continues,”I’m just being really honest, sir.”
“Who brought up the race card?” Parker asks. “I’m bringing it up,” to which Parker responds, “I said nothing about you being black and I have every right to ask for your ID…”
Sergeant Parker, a 25-year LAPD veteran has been suspended for leaking the audio recording and is being investigated by the department’s internal affairs division.
Watts and Lucas provided a statement regarding the charges against them that read: “We are, quite frankly, appalled and disturbed that the LA prosecutors office has chosen to file these charges against us. The LAPD has previously issued a statement saying that there was no crime committed. If a passionate public embrace while displaying no nudity is grounds for having charges filed against you, then we’d expect that everyone who engages in an extended public display of affection with their loved one will be targeted as well. Sergeant [Jim] Parker is still under investigation for his conduct and filing misdemeanor charges against us does not change his behavior.”
If the couple is found guilty, they could both face a maximum of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
