Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
Rod Stewart, who turns 75 on Friday, and his 39-year-old son Sean Roderick Stewart, were each charged with simple battery by the Palm Beach County Police Department after an alleged fight with a security guard on New Year’s Eve.
Police say father and son got into an altercation on Tuesday night with a man who was working as a security guard employed by the Breakers Palm Beach resort for a private event in a children’s area.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the 33-year-old guard, saw a group of people approaching the check-in table but they were not authorized to be there.
The group — which included Stewart and his family — started “to get loud and cause a scene” and refused the guard’s demands that they leave. That’s when Stewart’s son Sean “got about nose to nose distance” from the security guard’s face, according to the report.
Police say the younger Stewart shoved the security guard backward after he put his right hand on Sean’s chest and told him he needed to back up and give him some space.
That’s when Rod — identified on the arrest report by his full name, Roderick David Stewart — stepped forward and threw a punch at the security guard, hitting the security guard in his left rib cage area, according to the affidavit.
Two Breakers employees who were working the private event told police they saw Sean push the security guard and Rod punched him in the chest with a closed fist.
Police say surveillance video “revealed both Sean Stewart and Rod Stewart as the primary aggressors.”
According to the affidavit, Rod Stewart told officers that his group had approached the check-in table so the children that were with them could gain access to the event.
When the security guard denied the Stewart clan access, Rod told police the guard became argumentative with his family and that this made them “agitated.”
“Rod Stewart apologized for his behavior in the incident,” the affidavit said.
Rod and Sean Stewart were issued a notice to appear at the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Complex on Feb. 5, 2020.
Stewart has homes in London, Beverly Hills and on South Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach County.
He’s even recorded some of his biggest hits in South Florida, including the controversial and misunderstood disco-rock classic, “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” Others include “Tonight’s the Night,” “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” and “Hot Legs.”
Those late-1970s hits and their parent albums — “A Night on the Town,” “Foot Loose and Fancy Free” and “Blondes Have More Fun” — were produced by Tom Dowd and partly recorded at North Miami’s Criteria Studios.
Anytime tempers flare, there is the possibility that a fight will happen. Sometimes verbal conflicts escalate to physical altercations. Even if nobody was harmed, the other party can still file criminal charges for assault and/or battery. Simple battery charges must be taken seriously and defended by an experienced attorney who can challenge the case against you. Our South Florida Criminal Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton have the skill and experience needed to fight for your rights and freedom when you face assault and/or battery charges.
You may be wondering what is the difference between assault and battery. While assault and battery are two crimes that are often related, they are different. Assault involves the use of verbal threats toward another person and no physical contact is involved.
When threats move to touching someone without their consent, that is when it becomes battery. Battery charges can vary in the state of Florida from a first-degree misdemeanor to a first-degree felony. Depending on the severity of charges, you could be looking at jail time and fines.
The state of Florida recognizes three types of battery: simple battery, aggravated battery and felony battery. Under Florida Statutes Section 784.03, battery occurs when a person touches or strikes another person without consent, or intentionally causes bodily harm to another person.
Simple battery is the least serious form of battery and involves physical contact that has resulted in minor injuries. Simple battery is a first-degree misdemeanor, which is punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to one year in jail.
Felony battery occurs when you hit someone and cause serious injury. This can also be charged if you have previously been convicted of battery. Felony battery is a third-degree felony, punishable by a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison.
Aggravated battery, the most serious form of battery, involves serious injury with a deadly weapon. This is a second-degree felony punishable by a $10,000 fine and up to 15 years in prison.
Facing battery charges of any kind require a serious defense strategy. If you are facing battery charges in Florida, we can help you work towards a favorable outcome.