Judge Mandates Shia LaBeouf's Return to Rehabilitation After Mardi Gras Incident
A New Orleans judge has ordered actor Shia LaBeouf to return to drug and alcohol rehabilitation and set a substantial $100,000 bond. This decision came on Thursday after the film star faced two counts of battery related to an alleged assault outside a bar during the recent Mardi Gras celebrations.
Courtroom Proceedings and Judicial Admonishment
LaBeouf, aged 39, appeared alone in the courtroom, dressed in a fleece jacket and jeans tucked into cowboy boots. Judge Simone Levine of Orleans Parish Criminal Court strongly admonished him for allegedly yelling homophobic slurs while hitting multiple people near the French Quarter. According to the police report, LaBeouf dislocated one victim's nose during the altercation.
The judge expressed deep concern over the episode, stating it posed a risk to "the safety of this larger community, especially relative to a marginalized community that has gone through so much terror," referring to the LGBTQ+ community. She emphasized, "This defendant does not take his alcohol addiction seriously. This court does not believe he understands the level of seriousness when it comes to these allegations."
Legal Conditions and Immediate Testing
As part of the court order, LaBeouf must submit to weekly drug tests, including one conducted on the spot in the courthouse. His attorney, Sarah Chervinsky, confirmed that he agreed to this condition, and the initial test did not reveal any illegal substances in his system. However, Judge Levine highlighted her worries about LaBeouf's ability to manage his alcohol consumption, questioning whether he "could handle his alcohol."
In response, Chervinsky argued, "Frankly, being drunk on Mardi Gras is not a crime." Despite this, the judge maintained the strict conditions, also ordering LaBeouf to stay away from the victims and the bar where the incident occurred.
Victim Accounts and Additional Details
Jeffrey Damnit, a local entertainer identified in police reports as Jeffrey Klein, previously told The Associated Press that LaBeouf repeatedly punched him and used homophobic slurs while threatening his life. Damnit believed he was targeted because he wore makeup and eyeliner, stating, "This guy wants me to be dead because I wear makeup. It's a screwed-up thing."
Judge Levine noted that when she initially released LaBeouf without bond shortly after his arrest on February 17, she had not yet reviewed the police report detailing the homophobic slurs and violent actions. Videos of the altercations have since surfaced, showing LaBeouf striking multiple people with a closed fist after being asked to leave a bar.
Post-Release Actions and Travel Restrictions
Following his release from custody, LaBeouf was seen dancing in the streets of the French Quarter during Mardi Gras. He posted the $100,000 bond and declined to comment to reporters, saying in a court hallway, "No, I won't say a word. God bless you, leave me alone." He has not yet formally entered a plea to the charges.
The judge also denied a request by LaBeouf to travel to Rome in March for "religious observations, including his father's baptism," further tightening the legal constraints on his movements.
