PAULA POUNDSTONE’S friends have rushed to her defense and they say she never laid a finger on the daughter who accused her of abuse — the 12-year-old girl made up the charges as revenge for a vicious argument with her falling-down-drunk mother.
Paula’s friends insist that’s the untold story behind the comedienne’s headline-making arrest on felony charges of “lewd conduct” and child endangerment. But the L.A. County D.A.’s office charges that she committed lewd acts against the daughter on three separate occasions, and that she also endangered her other children.
Paula, 41 — who has three adopted children and two foster children — checked into the Promises rehab center in Malibu in June to try to beat her addiction to alcohol. But she managed to smuggle in booze and get drunk several times at the center, a friend revealed.
“It was during one of those rehab benders that Paula got into a screaming match with her daughter over the phone.
“Paula’s daughter was telling her mom she was going out with some of her friends later that evening. Paula flew into a drunken rage and ranted to her daughter that she was way too young to be going out unsupervised.
“Shortly after the blow-up with her daughter, the ‘lewd conduct’ charges were filed against Paula.
“I believe her daughter made up the charges with no basis at all for the terrible accusations.”
A source close to Paula contended:
“Paula’s daughter blew the whistle on the comedienne not for molesting her, but because Paula was out of control on booze.
“The daughter brought charges against Paula, forcing her to expose her drinking problems to the world.”
Shortly before her June 27 arrest at the rehab center, a deeply depressed Paula got smashed on another bender and suffered painful burns on her hand in the facility’s kitchen, said her friend.
FAST FACT!
Paula was a foster child.
“Paula was so drunk she somehow managed to put her hand in a pot of hot grease while stumbling around the kitchen. She was rushed to UCLA Medical Center to be treated for the burn.
“And while at the medical center she was also given a psychiatric evaluation. Doctors were concerned she might harm herself.
“It’s a deadly combination to be depressed and completely plastered.”
Paula already tried to commit suicide eight years ago, recalls an insider who went with a friend to Paula’s West Hollywood condo.
“When we opened the door, we saw Paula lying there on her living room floor, passed out. We tried to rouse her, but couldn’t. She was totally unconscious.
“We called the ambulance and it took her to Cedars-Sinai hospital.
“Later I was told she had attempted suicide by taking an overdose of prescription drugs.”
The close source added: “I have no doubt the child molestation charges against Paula will be dropped. Her problem is drinking, not sexually abusing kids.”
— RICK EGUSQUIZA and LARRY HALEY
