Source: CNN
Morgan Wallen pleaded guilty Thursday to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment stemming from his arrest in April for throwing a chair off of a Nashville rooftop bar, court records show.
According to the documents, obtained by CNN, Wallen pleaded guilty under a deferral, allowing for the charges to be expunged upon completing his sentence and probation.
Wallen’s attorney Worrick Robinson, IV, told CNN in a statement Thursday that the country singer appeared at a Davidson county courthouse and “entered a conditional plea pursuant to Tennessee’s Diversion Statute that does not result in a conviction.”
“The plea agreement with the Office of the District Attorney requires Mr. Wallen to spend 7 days at a DUI Education Center, be on probation for 2 years — one year for each of the misdemeanor charges for reckless endangerment— pay a $350 fine and court fees. Upon the successful completion of his probation, the charges will be eligible for dismissal and expungement,” the statement read.
Robinson’s statement continued: “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.”
Online records show a third count of reckless endangerment and one disorderly conduct were dismissed Thursday.
Wallen was arrested in April on three felony counts of reckless endangerment and one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct “for throwing a chair from the rooftop of Chief’s Bar,” Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a statement on X at the time.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by CNN affiliate WTVF, several Metro Nashville police officers were standing outside of the bar when a chair fell from above and landed near where they were standing.
Employees of the bar told police that Wallen threw the chair from the top floor of the six-story restaurant and bar.
Surveillance camera footage from the bar’s rooftop showed Wallen “lunging” and “throwing an object over the roof,” according to the report, which also noted that witnesses who saw the incident unfold told police they saw Wallen laughing after he grabbed the chair and threw it.
His bond was set at $15,250 and Robinson said in a statement at the time that he was “cooperating fully with authorities.”
Wallen is a Grammy-nominated country singer who in 2021 faced controversy after he was seen on camera using a racial slur. His contract was suspended by his record label and several radio stations stopped playing his music for a time. He later issued an apology.
He’s had three No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was named the 2024 Artist of the Year at the recent CMA Awards.