Barton arrested in West Hollywood and booked for drunk driving, possession of illegal narcotics and driving without a valid license

By Stacey Silberman

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 12/27/07 – Actress Mischa Barton 21, is the newest female celeb to visit the slammer after allegedly driving under the influence, having possession of illegal narcotics and driving without a valid license, according to Lieutenant Honings of West Hollywood Sheriff’s division.

“With Barton’s arrest, we add another name to the Hollywood Hall of Shame, Girls Gone Wild wing,” said celebrity publicist and author Michael Levine. “It will not injure her career, it will engender more interest in her. Thirty years ago, this would have ended a career. Nowadays society doesn’t stigmatize this sort of criminal behavior.”

Levine spelled it out in financial terms. “Three months ago, Barton would have gotten maybe $100,000 to write a book. Today she would get half a million.”

Indeed, like her other high-profile celebutante girlfriends Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, Barton also accepts huge wads of cash to open the hottest new restaurants and clubs. This weekend’s fete is the bordello-themed CatHouse at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.

And rather than being ostracized by the hotel management or attendees, her prior appearance in the West Hollywood slammer will be a scandalous plus, not a minus and the opening of the supperclub will be an even hotter ticket. As of press time, she was reportedly still scheduled to attend, and police or courts will have no further reason to detain her after court dates are set today.

Barton was spotted by sheriffs and pulled over around 3 a.m. this morning while cruising through West Hollywood.

According to Honings, she was still in sheriffs’ custody as of 8am this morning and will be released on a $10,000 bond.

Barton starred in the TV drama “The O.C.,” playing main character Marissa Cooper. She is also the former BFF of mommy to be Nicole Richie.

Barton has moved on from the “O.C.” and segued her career into film after a stint as a Bebe clothing model. She has three projects in the works called: “Virgin Territory,” “St. Trinian’s” and “Closing the Ring.”