Current:Home > NewsMorgan Wallen sentenced after pleading guilty in Nashville chair -TrueNorth Capital Hub
Morgan Wallen sentenced after pleading guilty in Nashville chair
View
Date:2025-04-13 09:49:33
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! (5)
Related
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- WNBA playoffs: Players to watch in the semifinal round
- Texas edges Alabama as new No. 1 in US LBM Coaches Poll after Crimson Tide's defeat of Georgia
- Trump lists his grievances in a Wisconsin speech intended to link Harris to illegal immigration
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- California governor vetoes bill to create first-in-nation AI safety measures
- Kentucky pulls off upset at No. 5 Mississippi with help from gambles by Mark Stoops
- In the Fight to Decide the Fate of US Steel, Climate and Public Health Take a Backseat to Politics
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Multiple people dead after plane crash at Wright Brothers National Memorial’s First Flight Airport
Ranking
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Conservative Christians were skeptical of mail-in ballots. Now they are gathering them in churches
- When do the Jewish High Holidays start? The 10-day season begins this week with Rosh Hashana
- 'Days of Our Lives' icon Drake Hogestyn, beloved as John Black, dies at 70
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- Breanna Stewart, Liberty handle champion Aces in Game 1 of WNBA semifinals
- 'Say it again': Deion Sanders revels in Colorado's 4-1 start after big win over UCF
- A brush fire prompts evacuations in the Gila River Indian Community southwest of Phoenix
Recommendation
Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
Do food dyes make ADHD worse? Why some studies' findings spur food coloring bans
Raheem Morris downplays Kyle Pitts' zero-catch game: 'Stats are for losers'
Squishmallow drops 2024 holiday lineup: See collabs with Stranger Things, Harry Potter
Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
Bills vs. Ravens winners, losers: Derrick Henry stars in dominant Baltimore win
Georgia power outage map: Thousands still without power days after Helene
Stuck NASA astronauts welcome SpaceX capsule that’ll bring them home next year