Weezer bassist’s wife Jillian Shriner to enter two-year mental health diversion after LAPD confrontation
LA County judge approves a two-year program that could lead to dismissal of felony weapons charges if completed, with strict conditions including therapy and abstinence requirements.
Jillian Shriner, 52, the wife of Weezer bassist Scott Shriner, was granted a two-year mental health diversion Thursday after her arrest in an armed standoff with Los Angeles police outside her home, a deal that could see felony weapons charges dismissed if she completes the program.
Shriner was arrested in April following an armed confrontation with officers who were searching for suspects in a nearby hit-and-run incident. Police said Shriner brandished a handgun at officers and fired from her yard, prompting multiple commands to drop the weapon. She did not comply with the officers’ orders, after which they returned fire, striking her in the arm. She was taken to a hospital and later booked into jail, posting a $1 million bail before being released. Earlier this year, Shriner pleaded not guilty to weapons charges connected to the incident. The case has since been placed into a two-year diversion program ordered by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge.
LA County Superior Court Judge Susan De Witt ordered Shriner into the mental health diversion, which is designed for defendants with qualifying mental health or substance use disorders to receive community-based treatment instead of prison time. The district attorney’s office told NBC 4 that, if Shriner successfully completes the conditions of the diversion, the case will be dismissed by the court. As part of the program, Shriner must adhere to several conditions, including abstaining from illicit drugs and alcohol, maintaining weekly therapy sessions, submitting to random drug and alcohol testing, and attending at least three Alcoholics Anonymous meetings per week. She is also prohibited from owning or possessing any guns or knives during the program. The diversion program carries a two-year duration, after which the court will assess Shriner’s progress.
Shriner faces ongoing court oversight during the diversion period. The DA’s office said any violation of the program’s terms could result in termination of the diversion and a return to the original case, with the weapons charges pending before the court. Shriner is scheduled to return to the LA courthouse on January 9 to report on her progress under the diversion program.
The two-year program is part of a broader approach in which defendants with identifiable mental health or substance-use issues may receive treatment-driven remedies intended to address underlying factors rather than rely solely on incarceration. The DA’s office emphasized that completion of the diversion would result in the dismissal of the charges, while noncompliance could lead to reinstatement of the case in court and potential prosecution on the original charges.
Scott and Jillian Shriner — who were married in 2005 and have two adopted children — are well known publicly for their ties to the music world and for Jillian Shriner’s work as an author under her maiden name, Jillian Lauren. The couple has previously discussed their family life and personal challenges in interviews and writings, underscoring a focus on personal growth and accountability that is now reflected in the diversion arrangement.
The case underscores the evolving use of mental health diversion in handling high-profile incidents, particularly where authorities say a defendant’s behavior may be linked to underlying mental health or substance use factors. In this instance, Shriner’s lawyer and prosecutors will monitor compliance with the program’s stringent conditions through the two-year period, with the potential for the charges to be dismissed entirely if the terms are met. The court’s assessment next January will determine whether Shriner’s progress meets the standards set by the diversion, and whether the case should proceed to dismissal.