A year after he was charged with assault and assault against a member of the paparazzi, Nick Lachey has been ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings – along with anger management classes.
The incident in question occurred in March 2022 when Lachey allegedly assaulted photographer Jody Santos.
The above penalties are applicable for one year.
Footage from last March shows Lachey walking up to Santos’ car… trying to snatch his phone… and cursing at him after realizing that he and his wife Vanessa was taking pictures of Lachey.
The Daily Mail reported at the time that he had been charged with assault and assault.
The Los Angeles District Attorney explained in a statement Tuesday:
“Mr. Lachey has not been charged with misdemeanor assault and battery. Instead he is participating in LADA’s prefilling diversion program that was established in 2017.
“Under these conditions he must attend anger management classes and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. No criminal charges will be filed as a result of successful completion of the Prefiling Diversion Program.
Santos said today:
“In my years of photographing celebrities, no one has ever tried to hit on me.
“I’m just relieved that I rolled up my window as fast as I did, otherwise he would have kicked me out. there’s no doubt about it…
“I’ve taken pictures of them many times and never had a problem, but this time was different.”
Santos also claimed last year that Lachey called her a “psycho mother fucker,” shoved his hand through my car window, and tried to grab my cell phone,” adding that she was “certain.” could clearly smell the smell of alcohol on his breath.
“What he did was wrong,” she said.
“Trying to smash his fist through my car window while I was doing it and taking pictures of him. He should have thanked me for the free publicity.
“Really. Talk about a big ego.
Santos further alleged that he “heard Vanessa say, ‘Go get them, open the door,’ and then he started walking towards my car in a very aggressive manner.”
After rolling down his car window, the photographer said that Nick punched the glass so hard “I thought he was going to break his hand.”
He insisted: I’m surprised he didn’t break the window.
For his part, Lachey tweeted the day after the incident.
He wrote on March 27, 2022, “Last night, after enjoying a wonderful dinner with my wife and our dear friend, we were harassed by the paparazzi as we walked back to our hotel.”
“I clearly overreacted. I’ve been in this game long enough to know that his actions are sadly part of the deal. Stupid from me. Absolute.”