Russell Crowe - Crowe 'Signs Deal' To Avoid Jail

RUSSELL CROWE has reportedly sealed a deal with New York's District Attorney's office so he will avoid jail for his assault on a hotel worker.

Crowe was charged with second degree assault in June (06) after throwing a telephone at NESTOR ESTRADA, an employee at Manhattan's Mercer Hotel, when he failed to get a phone connection to wife DANIELLE in Australia.

As a felony, the charge could have jeopardised the Hollywood star's visa status in the US and led to a sentence of up to seven years in prison.

But the 41-year-old will plead guilty to third-degree misdemeanour assault in court today (18NOV05) and be released, with no worse sentence than probation, according to the New York Post.

However, the conviction could still jeopardise New Zealand-born Crowe's status in America. Government immigration spokesman MARC RAIMONDI tells the newspaper, "Convictions involving moral turpitude can result in a review of immigration status.

"When that's said and done (the conviction) we'll review it. We'll deal with it appropriately. I don't think we're going to be waiting for him outside the court house."