South Florida Lawyer Blog
Singer Sir Rod Stewart and his son, Sean Roderick Stewart, both entered a guilty plea to one count of simple battery Friday stemming from a New Year’s Eve 2019 incident outside a south Florida hotel.
Police claim that Stewart hit a security guard at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach on New Year’s Eve after his son got in the guard’s face and allegedly shoved him.
Hotel camera footage apparently showed that Stewart and his son were the aggressors in the incident leading to their arrests, according to an affidavit obtained by CNN.
The Stewarts did not appear in court Friday and pleaded guilty “in absentia,” according to court documents.
They were also order to pay $675 each in court fines.
Neither Stewart or his son were convicted of the crime or sentenced to jail or probation.
Under Florida Statutes Section 784.03, there are three types of battery: 1. Simple battery, 2. Aggravated battery, and 3. Felony battery. Battery happens when another person physically touches or strikes another person without their consent, or intentionally inflicts physical violence on another person.
While simple battery is the least serious of battery charges, these are still serious criminal charges that must be fought. Simple battery is a first-degree misdemeanor that involves physical contact that has resulted in minor injuries. If convicted, this crime carries penalties of up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Simple battery charges will be treated by police as serious crimes and the prosecution will examine various types of evidence to determine the strength of their case, such as:
- Photos of any injuries
- Photos of the scene where the alleged simple battery occurred
- Statements (written or verbal) made by the alleged victim
- Police reports from the scene
- Medical records if the alleged victim sought medical care
- Any 911 recordings from the alleged incident
- Any witness statements
- All other facts and circumstances leading up to the alleged act of simple battery