Nicole Bobek

Nicole Bobek (born August 23, 1977) is a retired American figure skater. She is the 1995 U.S. national champion and 1995 World bronze medalist. She also competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

Personal life An only child, Bobek was raised by her Czech mother Jana, and by Jana's life partner Joyce Barron. In the next few seasons, she worked her way up the competitive rankings at the national level. She was known as an athletic jumper and a charismatic performer, but an erratic competitor and undisciplined student, often arriving late to training and skipping school. In addition to Richard Callaghan and Carlo and Christa Fassi, Bobek's coaches included Frank Carroll, Mary and Evy Scotvold,

Film In 2006, Bobek appeared in the film All the King's Men, as a skater who fascinates governor Willy Stark.

Legal problems In November 1994, Bobek was charged with first-degree home invasion after she used an access code to enter a friend's garage and home in Michigan. She allegedly took cash from a purse, but was caught when the homeowner arrived, and Bobek returned the money. She claimed that she was granted permission by another member of the household to enter the house and retrieve the cash. Bobek was 17 years old and legally an adult under Michigan criminal law, but she was eligible for probation with the record of the offense sealed from the public record by pleading guilty under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, a special law for youthful first offenders. In January 1995, she was sentenced to two years of probation and a choice between 50 hours of community service and 30 days in jail. Information regarding her case soon spread widely through skating circles and was leaked to the news media. Under the Youthful Trainee Act, cases are to remain confidential, so in February 1995, Bobek filed for dismissal. Though some journalists and legal scholars have argued that Michigan law allows journalists to release information about juvenile criminals if there is "compelling public interest," which was arguable given Bobek's status as a world-class figure skater, her motion for probation discharge was granted by the court. The appeals court reversed the decision of the trial court to terminate probation and remanded for a continuation of probation.

In late 2006, Bobek's mother raised and then dropped a petition to have her undergo rehabilitation, worrying that her daughter would become estranged.