Current:Home > StocksMorgan Wallen sentenced after pleading guilty in Nashville chair -VitalEdge Finance Pro
Morgan Wallen sentenced after pleading guilty in Nashville chair
View
Date:2025-04-17 09:00:59
Morgan Wallen pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, reduced from the three Class E felonies he was initially charged with, ending an eight-month process for the country crooner.
He will be held for seven days in a DUI education center. He will then be on supervised probation for two years.
Wallen, with a fresh haircut and clean shave, appeared alongside his attorney, Worrick Robinson, to accept the plea. It was the first time the singer made an in-person appearance in a courtroom for the charges. The hearing lasted 10 minutes.
When Judge Cynthia Chappell asked how Wallen pleaded, he replied: "Conditionally guilty."
More:Timeline of Morgan Wallen's rollercoaster career after his most recent arrest
Need a break?Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Wallen was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and one count of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, after he threw a chair from the roof of Chief's, a six-story honky-tonk on Broadway opened by Eric Church, in April.
As soon as Chappell entered her judgment, Wallen was swiftly ushered out of the courtroom, Robinson beside him and bodyguards flanking them. Wallen made no comments as he got into an elevator.
In a written statement issued after the proceedings, Robinson said Wallen's agreement, should his client adhere to all provisions, will "not result in a conviction." Wallen will also have to pay a $350 fine and court fees.
"Upon the successful completion of his probation, the charges will be eligible for dismissal and expungement," Robinson said. "Mr. Wallen has cooperated fully with authorities throughout these last eight months, directly communicating and apologizing to all involved. Mr. Wallen remains committed to making a positive impact through his music and foundation."
According to court records from April, it was minutes before 11 p.m. when police officers standing in front of Chief's bar saw a chair come flying down, crashing onto the street just three feet from two officers. Security footage from the bar showed Wallen throw an object over the roof, according to his arrest affidavit.
After his arrest, Wallen posted a $15,250 bond and was released the next morning.
Days later, Wallen took to social media to accept responsibility for the offense. "I didn't feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks," he said in the post to X, formerly known as Twitter. "I've touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I'm not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility."
In a Tuesday hearing, Wallen's attorney told General Sessions Judge Jim Todd that the singer was waiving his right to a preliminary hearing and a grand jury presentment. The case was quickly rolled into circuit criminal court Wednesday and a hearing was promptly scheduled to accept his plea.
Records filed Wednesday showed details of the agreement and the lessening of charges to two counts of reckless endangerment without a deadly weapon.
The charges each carried a maximum sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine.
In November, Wallen was named Entertainer of the Year at the 58th Annual CMA Awards. Wallen was not in attendance, and the presenter, actor Jeff Bridges, accepted the award on his behalf.
Contributing: Evan Mealins, The Nashville Tennessean
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (52413)
Related
- New Orleans mayor’s former bodyguard making first court appearance after July indictment
- Biden provides chip maker with $1.5 billion to expand production in New York, Vermont
- Authorities identify woman killed in Indianapolis Waffle House shooting
- 1 killed, 5 wounded in shooting at Waffle House in Indianapolis, police say
- Beware of giant spiders: Thousands of tarantulas to emerge in 3 states for mating season
- US Supreme Court won’t hear lawsuit tied to contentious 2014 Senate race in Mississippi
- Beyoncé's 'Texas Hold 'Em' debuts on country charts, and it's a big deal
- Air Canada chatbot costs airline discount it wrongly offered customer
- Jury selection set for Monday for ex-politician accused of killing Las Vegas investigative reporter
- See America Ferrera, Megan Fox, Jeremy Renner, more exclusive People's Choice Awards photos
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Student in Colorado campus killing was roommate of 1 of the victims, police say
- Biden raised $42 million in January, his campaign says
- Americans’ reliance on credit cards is the key to Capital One’s bid for Discover
- Vance jokes he’s checking out his future VP plane while overlapping with Harris at Wisconsin airport
- Teams combine for three hat tricks in Wild's record-filled 10-7 victory over Canucks
- White House criticizes House Republicans for inaction on Ukraine aid
- Is the stock market open or closed on Presidents Day 2024? See full holiday schedule
Recommendation
Immigration issues sorted, Guatemala runner Luis Grijalva can now focus solely on sports
Nikki Haley hasn’t yet won a GOP contest. But she’s vowing to keep fighting Donald Trump
Did your iPhone get wet? Apple updates guidance to advise against putting it in rice
Connecticut still No. 1 as top 10 of USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll gets shuffled
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Enbridge Wants Line 5 Shutdown Order Overturned on Tribal Land in Northern Wisconsin
Dramatic video shows deputy rescuing baby trapped inside car after deadly crash in Florida
Japan's flagship H3 rocket successfully reaches orbit after failed debut launch