Man who allegedly has TomKat wedding photos arrested

Los Angeles – An Arizona man who allegedly demanded more than $1 million not to publish Tom Cruise’s stolen wedding photographs has been arrested, the actor’s attorney said Thursday.

David Hans Schmidt, known for brokering deals involving compromising celebrity photos and videos, approached Cruise’s representatives about six weeks ago with photos from the actor’s Italian wedding last year to Katie Holmes, attorney Bertram Fields said. The FBI was contacted.

“He was looking for money, lots of money,” Fields said.

Schmidt, 47, was arrested by federal agents Tuesday, said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller, but she said the criminal complaint charging him was under seal in federal court and she refused to comment.

Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles, said a judge set bond at $100,000. Schmidt was being held Thursday at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, according to jail records.

It was not immediately clear if Schmidt had an attorney or how he obtained the photos.

Schmidt also has been trying to auction Paris Hilton’s diaries, along with photos of her in various stages of undress and other personal items that had been locked away in a Los Angeles-area storage locker until a few months ago.

Etta James hospitalized for complications from surgery

Los Angeles – Etta James was in stable condition Thursday after being hospitalized for complications from abdominal surgery she had last month, her manager said.

The 69-year-old blues singer was being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

“Her condition is stabilized” but she had to cancel upcoming tour dates with B.B. King and Al Green, her manager, Lupe De Leon, said in an e-mail.

De Leon did not indicate when James was admitted but said the hospitalization was caused by “post-op complications” from her mid-June surgery. The complications and the nature of the surgery were not specified.

The Grammy Award-winning singer was “extremely disappointed” at having to cancel appearances, De Leon said.

McCready accused of violating probation on ’04 drug charge

Nashville, Tenn. – Mindy McCready was in jail Thursday, accused of violating probation on a 2004 drug charge after a scuffle with her mother and authorities in Florida.

The 31-year-old country singer was taken into custody Wednesday at Nashville International Airport and booked into the Williamson County jail just south of Nashville.

She was arrested last week in Fort Myers, Fla., her hometown, on misdemeanor charges that she scratched her mother on the face during a scuffle and resisted sheriff’s deputies.

McCready is not yet scheduled to have a bond hearing, Williamson County Circuit Court clerk officials said Thursday. A hearing on charges of violating her probation is set for Sept. 7.

Deputy District Attorney General Derek Smith said McCready violated probation in three ways: by being charged in a new offense, by not reporting those charges immediately to her probation officer and by the nature of the new assault charges.

She could serve up to three years in prison if convicted of violating probation.

Beyonce tumbles face-first down flight of stairs at concert

New York – Beyonce Knowles made a dramatic misstep when she fell face-first down a flight of stairs during a concert. Ever the stage professional, she got right up and continued her performance as if nothing had happened.

The 25-year-old singer – flipping her hair dramatically and wearing a long red trench coat and high heels – was performing her song “Ring the Alarm” during a concert Tuesday in Orlando, Fla., when she tripped and stumbled down several stairs.

Knowles quickly regained her footing and microphone and went on with the show.

A spokeswoman for the singer didn’t immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press on Thursday.