Shia LaBeouf has entered a guilty plea to three counts of simple battery following an altercation outside a New Orleans bar during Mardi Gras in February. The incident, captured on video, shows the actor, shirtless, shoving one individual to the ground and striking another in the face, resulting in a possible nasal dislocation, according to a New Orleans police report.
Details of the Incident
The confrontation occurred on February 17. Jeffrey Damnit, a local entertainer identified as Jeffrey Klein in the police report, stated he was among those attacked by LaBeouf. Damnit recounted that LaBeouf punched him multiple times and pushed him. Earlier that night, Damnit claimed LaBeouf shoved him from behind at the bar, using homophobic slurs and threatening his life. Despite attempts by Damnit and others to subdue LaBeouf and persuade him to leave, the actor became increasingly aggressive.
Legal Proceedings
LaBeouf's attorney, Sarah Chervinsky, commented on the guilty plea, stating, "The police and DA investigation proved exactly what Shia LaBeouf said from the beginning — that this was nothing more than a minor Mardi Gras bar tussle." She emphasized that there was no evidence of bias or prejudice, which is why the state only charged low-level misdemeanors. "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," Chervinsky added.
LaBeouf's Legal History
This is not LaBeouf's first encounter with the law. In 2017, he was arrested in New York City on suspicion of assault during a livestream. Later that year, while filming The Peanut Butter Falcon in Georgia, he was arrested for public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and obstruction, receiving probation. In 2020, he faced misdemeanor battery and petty theft charges in Los Angeles. Additionally, singer FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit alleging physical and emotional abuse during their relationship, which was settled in July.
Career Background
LaBeouf rose to fame as a child actor on the Disney Channel series Even Stevens and continued working steadily into adulthood. He is best known for his roles in Transformers (2007) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
