NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Actor Shia LaBeouf pleaded guilty on Wednesday to three counts of simple battery and received probation. This follows an incident outside a bar in New Orleans during Mardi Gras in February, where he was accused of punching individuals.
Under the sentence issued by an Orleans Parish judge, LaBeouf is also required to attend an alcohol treatment program, according to his attorney, Sarah Chervinsky. The actor had been released on bail after his arrest near the French Quarter.
News reports indicate video footage from February 17 shows LaBeouf, shirtless, shoving one individual to the ground and hitting another, reportedly causing a possible dislocation of the victim’s nose, according to a New Orleans police report.
Judge Juana Marine-Lombard imposed a six-month suspended sentence along with two years of probation. LaBeouf was ordered to stay away from the three victims and the bar involved.
Chervinsky stated, “Mr. LaBeouf came to court today wanting to take accountability for his part in what happened, and he has done so. Now he’s looking forward to focusing on family, work, and new creative projects.”
Jeffrey Damnit, identified as Jeffrey Klein in the incident report, claimed that LaBeouf had pushed him earlier that night while using homophobic slurs and making threats. Chervinsky described the incident as a “minor Mardi Gras bar tussle” and stated there was “no evidence it was about bias or prejudice.”
Damnit’s attorney expressed hope that LaBeouf’s behavior would improve after attending substance abuse treatment, asserting that everyone in New Orleans deserves to feel safe, regardless of fame.
This incident is not LaBeouf’s first legal trouble. He faced several prior run-ins, including a 2017 arrest in New York City for an incident during a livestream. He also faced charges for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct while filming “The Peanut Butter Falcon” in Georgia later that year. In 2020, LaBeouf was charged with misdemeanor battery and petty theft in Los Angeles.
Additionally, singer and actor FKA Twigs, whose legal name is Tahliah Barnett, filed a lawsuit against LaBeouf in 2020, alleging physical and emotional abuse during their relationship, which was settled in July.
LaBeouf gained initial acclaim for his role in the Disney Channel series “Even Stevens” and has maintained a steady career in film.
Source: apnews.com via Google News.
