Actor Shia LaBeouf pleaded guilty to three counts of simple assault and was sentenced to probation. The incident occurred outside a New Orleans bar during Mardi Gras in February.
As part of the sentence, he must complete an alcohol treatment program. The information was confirmed by Sarah Chervinsky, the actor’s lawyer.
The facts of the incident
LaBeouf, known for roles in Transformers (2007) and Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull (2008), was arrested near the French Quarter. A video from Feb. 17 shows him shirtless, pushing one person to the ground and punching another in the face. According to police, the blow may have caused the victim’s nose to be dislocated.
Judge Juana Marine-Lombard imposed a six-month suspended sentence and two years of probation. He also ordered LaBeouf not to approach the three victims or the bar where the altercation occurred.
“Mr. LaBeouf came to court today wanting to take responsibility for his part in what happened, and he has done so,” Chervinsky stated. “He now looks forward to focusing on family, work and new creative projects.”
Jeffrey Damnit, a local artist identified as Jeffrey Klein in the police report, said LaBeouf pushed him behind the bar while yelling homophobic slurs and threatening his life. Chervinsky called the incident a “minor bar altercation during Mardi Gras” and said there was no evidence of bias. Damnit’s lawyer expressed hope that the actor will improve after treatment.
Reactions and background
Following the indictment in February, a judge ordered LaBeouf to return to drug and alcohol rehab. The actor has other legal history: an arrest in New York in 2017 for assault during a live broadcast, and in 2020 he was charged with misdemeanor assault and theft in Los Angeles. That same year, singer FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit for physical and emotional abuse during their relationship, which was resolved last July.
