Ex-‘Sopranos’ star considers plea deal in assault case

New York — Vincent Pastore, who played gangster “Big Pussy” on HBO’s “The Sopranos,” is considering a plea deal offer for an alleged assault on his former girlfriend.

Pastore was offered the deal, which includes five days of community service, when he appeared Thursday in Manhattan Criminal Court. The plea deal also would require him to attend a batterers’ program.

The 58-year-old actor is free without bail. He has pleaded not guilty to four misdemeanors — two counts of assault and one count each of attempted assault and harassment from an alleged attack on Lisa Regina, 44, last month in Little Italy.

At Pastore’s April 5 arraignment, Assistant Dist. Atty. James Zaleta alleged the actor punched Regina in the back of the head, grabbed her hair and forced her head onto the gear shift in their car.

Mothers trusted Jackson to sleep with their sons

Santa Maria, Calif. — Two mothers testified Friday at Michael Jackson’s trial that they trusted Jackson enough to let their sons sleep in his bed and were convinced that no molestation occurred.

“I’ve known Michael for a long time. I’ve spent many hours talking to him about everything. I feel like he’s a member of my family. I trust him. I trust him with my children,” said Joy Robson, whose 22-year-old son, Wade, testified earlier that he was never molested by Jackson.

Also praising Jackson was Marie Elizabeth Barnes, whose son, Brett, testified that nothing improper happened when he shared Jackson’s bed.

“I trusted him implicitly,” she said of Jackson. “He’s a very nice person. You just know when you can trust someone.”

Robson’s daughter, Chantal Robson, testified that she slept in Jackson’s room with her brother four times as a child. She said she saw Jackson hug children and kiss them on the cheek, but she never saw anything of a sexual nature.

Jackson, 46, is accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 2003.

No hiding tonight for Abdul

New York — What’s the best way to rehabilitate your image if it’s taken a P.R. body blow? Either spill your guts to the nation’s therapist and Grand Confessor, Dr. Phil McGraw, who’ll feel your pain while lobbing potentially embarrassing questions (as he did with the master of penitence, Pat O’Brien), or make fun of yourself on “Saturday Night Live.”

“American Idol’s” alleged vixen, Paula Abdul, is doing the latter. According to “The Insider” (O’Brien’s show), the petite celeb judge will appear tonight on “SNL,” which will be hosted by Johnny Knoxville with musical guest System Of A Down.

President J.LO?

Paris — Watch out, Hillary Clinton — Jennifer Lopez could be in the running, too.

Apparently, J.Lo, who will soon be seen on the big screen with Jane Fonda in “Monster-in-Law,” says she wants to be the first female president, reports Agence France-Presse.

“If it were up to me, I’d love to be the first female president — it would be fascinating,” Lopez said. “The first thing I would do is redecorate the White House and make it more cozy and inviting.”

Birthdays

Actor Robert Hegyes is 54. Actor Darren McGavin is 83. Rock musician Bill Kreutzmann (Grateful Dead) is 59. NBC newsman Tim Russert is 55. Actress Traci Lords is 36. Actor Breckin Meyer is 31.