Rod Stewart Pleads Guilty To Battery Over Florida Hotel Fight
British pop star Rod Stewart and his son pleaded guilty to battery over an altercation with a Florida security guard, prosecutors said Friday, but neither faces jail time or any fines.
The 76-year-old singer of “Maggie May” and numerous other hit songs was accused of punching a hotel guard outside a children’s party at The Breakers, a luxury hotel in Palm Beach, on New Year’s Eve 2019.
The incident reportedly occurred when Stewart, his adult son Sean and other family members including children were refused access to a party in the children’s section of the resort.
The singer — recognizable by his hoarse voice and mop of blond hair — pleaded guilty Monday to simple battery, a minor offense which is generally punishable by a fine.
But the judge withheld adjudication for both Stewart and his son, meaning they are not formally convicted and do not face any criminal consequences, while the court avoids a time-consuming and costly adjudication.
“No one was injured in the incident and a jury did not find Sir Rod Stewart guilty of the accusation,” said Stewart’s lawyer Guy Fronstin, in a statement to AFP.
“Instead, Sir Rod Stewart decided to enter a plea to avoid the inconvenience and unnecessary burden on the court and the public that a high-profile proceeding would cause.
“In resolving the case, Sir Rod Stewart was not convicted, nor sentenced to jail, or placed on probation.”
Stewart’s son Sean has a history of addiction and legal troubles.
In 2002, Sean Stewart was arrested for assaulting a man outside a Malibu restaurant in a fight broken up by Superman actor Dean Cain, and pleaded no contest.
In 2015, he was arrested for riding a luggage carousel into the restricted area of the Miami airport.