Shia LaBeouf, now 39, pleaded guilty to three counts of simple battery, a finding reported consistently by U.S. outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and Page Six. The Transformer film star admitted guilt because he wants to take responsibility for his actions, his attorney told the Times. According to reports, LaBeouf is set to receive a two-year period of probation. As part of his probation, he will be required to attend anger-management programs, complete sensitivity training, and undergo rehabilitation for alcohol misuse.
Attorney frames it as a straightforward “scuffle”
The actor was arrested on February 17 in New Orleans. He faced accusations that, during Mardi Gras, he punched two men outside a bar, allegedly in response to hostility toward LGBTQ people. The actor was reportedly released shortly thereafter. He subsequently paid bail of $100,000. An additional charge was added, and LaBeouf was ordered to enter a sobriety program and submit to weekly drug testing.
One of the victims claimed that LaBeouf had subjected him to homophobic slurs. The actor’s attorney stated that investigations by authorities corroborated what LaBeouf had said from the start: that it was simply a bar scuffle during Mardi Gras. There was no evidence that the altercation was driven by prejudice or discrimination. LaBeouf said he looked forward to focusing on his family, his work, and new creative projects.
