Image from Creative Commons

Gibson's made a plea deal with the prosecution, which sticks him with a simple battery charge.

However, he avoids the more serious charge of corporal injury on ex-wife Oksana Grigorieva, and more importantly, jail time entirely.

Gibson reportedly took the plea deal in order to avoid going to trial, as celebrity trials are high wattage tabloid events (see: anytime Lindsay Lohan steps into court).

Gibson's lawyer additionally states that by accepting a plea deal, Gibson is also protecting his children, especially his young daughter Lucia.

Reach Lilian Min here; follow her on Twitter here.