Actor Shia LaBeouf was placed on probation on Wednesday after admitting to assaulting three individuals outside a bar in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. LaBeouf has been mandated to participate in an alcohol treatment program as part of the sentence issued by an Orleans Parish judge, as confirmed by Sarah Chervinsky, his legal representative.
Best known for his lead roles in the movies “Transformers” (2007) and “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull” (2008), LaBeouf had been released on bail subsequent to his apprehension near New Orleans’ historic French Quarter. Video footage from the incident on February 17 captures LaBeouf, without a shirt, pushing one person to the ground outside a bar and striking another individual in the face, potentially causing a dislocation of the nose, according to a report by the New Orleans police.
The police report also mentioned that LaBeouf used homophobic slurs multiple times, including during his arrest. LaBeouf admitted guilt to three charges of simple battery. Orleans Parish Judge Juana Marine-Lombard imposed a suspended six-month jail term and two years of probation on the actor. Additionally, LaBeouf is required to maintain a distance from the victims and the bar.
Chervinsky stated that LaBeouf aimed to take responsibility for his actions and described the incident as a “minor altercation at a Mardi Gras bar,” emphasizing that there was no indication of bias or prejudice involved. Orleans Parish district attorney Jason Williams affirmed that his office consulted with the victims to ensure their agreement before presenting LaBeouf with the plea agreement.
One of the individuals targeted by LaBeouf, identified as Jeffrey Klein, also known as Jeffrey Damnit, reported being assaulted by the actor. Damnit shared that LaBeouf had previously shoved him at the bar, using homophobic language and making threats. Damnit’s legal counsel expressed hope that LaBeouf’s conduct would improve following his participation in substance abuse treatment, stressing the importance of equality and safety for all individuals in New Orleans.
Following his arrest in February, LaBeouf was directed by a judge to return to rehabilitation for drug and alcohol issues. In an interview with journalist and YouTuber Andrew Callaghan, LaBeouf denied having a drinking problem and expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of rehab in addressing his behavior during Mardi Gras, attributing his actions more to anger and ego than to alcohol.
LaBeouf’s history includes several encounters with the law, such as a 2017 arrest in New York on assault suspicions during a livestream and a subsequent arrest in Georgia for public drunkenness while filming “The Peanut Butter Falcon.” In 2020, he faced charges of misdemeanor battery and petty theft in Los Angeles. Additionally, a lawsuit filed by singer and actor FKA Twigs against LaBeouf alleging physical and emotional abuse during their relationship was settled in July of the same year. LaBeouf initially gained fame as a child actor on the Disney Channel series “Even Stevens.”