Shia LaBeouf was ordered Thursday to enroll in substance abuse treatment, undergo drug testing, and post a $100,000 bond following allegations he battered two men in New Orleans and directed homophobic slurs at them, according to court documents and reports from local media.
The ruling from Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Simone Levine came after LaBeouf, 39, was initially released on his own recognizance following his arrest on February 17th. The allegations of homophobic comments, however, were not initially part of the court record, prompting Judge Levine to recall the actor for a hearing, according to statements made in court.
LaBeouf appeared in court with New Orleans criminal defense attorney Sarah Chervinsky. While a drug and alcohol test administered at the courthouse did not reveal the presence of illegal substances, Judge Levine expressed concern over the results, stating they did not demonstrate a serious approach to alcohol addiction, according to reports from The Guardian and WDSU.
The charges stem from an incident at R Bar in the Marigny neighborhood, where police allege LaBeouf punched two men after becoming increasingly aggressive. Nathan Thomas Reed, 34, who identifies as queer, and Jeffrey Damnit, 49, were allegedly the victims of the assault. Damnit, who was wearing eyeshadow and lipstick at the time of the incident, has called on prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges, according to The Advocate.
Police reports indicate LaBeouf repeatedly used a homophobic slur during the altercation, with video evidence reportedly capturing him directing the slur at Damnit. The New Orleans District Attorney’s office, led by Jason Williams, has not yet indicated whether it will pursue hate crime enhancements.
LaBeouf was initially arrested on two counts of simple battery. Following Thursday’s hearing, Judge Levine denied a request from LaBeouf to travel outside of New Orleans. He is scheduled to return to court on March 19th. Chervinsky stated that bond paperwork would be submitted to the court promptly, allowing LaBeouf to remain out of custody pending the outcome of the case, according to The Guardian.
What we have is not LaBeouf’s first encounter with the legal system. In 2014, he was arrested for disrupting a Broadway show and accused of using a homophobic slur against a police officer. A 2017 arrest in Savannah, Georgia, for disorderly conduct led to a court-mandated stint in rehab after he was recorded making disparaging remarks, including racist language, toward law enforcement, according to reports.
Following his initial release on February 20th, LaBeouf was seen on Bourbon Street, reportedly dancing with his jail papers in his mouth, and later photographed at a New Orleans nightclub, according to TMZ. He reportedly responded to a Guardian journalist’s attempt to seek comment with a dismissive outburst, confirming his identity but requesting to be left alone.
