The actor Russell Crowe was fined $160 and given a conditional discharge on Friday after admitting that he threw a phone that hit a New York hotel employee in June.
Crowe was found guilty of a misdemeanour, and not the original more serious charge of assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Had he been convicted on the original charge, he would not have been able to work in the US and could have faced up to seven years in prison.
The actor reached an agreement with the employee, Nestor Estrada, in August. It has been reported that the settlement was for $100 000.
Crowe, who won an Oscar for his role in Gladiator, and has appeared Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind and LA Confidential, spoke only to confirm his name and his guilty plea.
After the hearing at New York criminal court, his lawyer, Gerald Lefcourt, said: ”My client has admitted he overreacted and he is very happy to have this resolved and move on with his life.”
Appearing on a TV chat show shortly after the incident, Crowe apologised, saying he regarded the episode as ”possibly the most shameful situation that I’ve ever gotten myself in in my life, and I’ve done some pretty dumb things in my life”.
The incident arose after Crowe (41) was unable to place a call to his wife in Australia from his hotel room. When he told the concierge about the problem and asked for help, the employee reportedly said: ”Whatever.”
Crowe reportedly said to the employee: ”I’m coming down right now to kick your arse.”
He then pulled the phone from the wall, went down to the hotel foyer and threw the phone and a vase at the man. He then bowed and assumed a martial arts stance. He was arrested at the scene. – Guardian Unlimited Â