Poundstone Regains Custody of Children

Comedian Paula Poundstone on Wednesday regained full legal custody of three adopted children she lost during a child-endangerment prosecution, her lawyer said.

Poundstone appeared in a juvenile courtroom in Monterey Park, but it was a formality, said attorney Rich Pfeiffer. Poundstone’s children had already been staying with her for a few days at her Santa Monica home.

“This is the happiest I’ve seen her,” Pfeiffer said.

Poundstone lost custody of her children after pleading no contest last year to a felony count of child endangerment and misdemeanor infliction of injury on a child. The endangerment charge involved drunk driving with children in her car.

The children were placed with a court-approved foster parent, a friend of the comedian. Poundstone, 42, was allowed daily monitored visits with the children.

In October 2001, Poundstone was sentenced to 180 days at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, plus five years of probation.

“She’s been alcohol-free for 18 months,” Pfeiffer said. “And all of the sustained child abuse against her -- every bit of it -- was alcohol-related.”

Pheiffer said Poundstone’s damaged career is beginning to rebound.

“Her business has suffered, she lost most of her work, but that is coming back now,” he said. “She is a battler, and she is not going to give up. She has incorporated much of this whole ordeal into her act, and she’s got plenty of material.”