Marilyn Manson fined, sentenced to community service for blowing nose on videographer
- The shock rocker pleaded no contest to the nose-blowing charge; prosecutors dismissed the other charge, which alleged that he spit on the videographer
- Manson was fined a little more than US$1,400 and he has to give proof of his community service by February 4
Marilyn Manson was sentenced to 20 hours of community service and a fine on Monday after pleading no contest to blowing his nose on a videographer at a 2019 concert in New Hampshire.
The shock rocker, 54, wanted to appear via video for his hearing on the misdemeanour charge, but the judge required him to be in the courtroom in Laconia, about 30 miles north of Concord, the state capital.
Manson, whose legal name is Brian Warner, was charged with two misdemeanour counts of simple assault stemming from the encounter with the videographer at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on August 19, 2019.
Manson pleaded no contest to the nose-blowing charge in a fully negotiated plea agreement with prosecutors. The prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other charge, which alleged that he spit on the videographer. A no contest plea means Manson is not contesting the charge and does not admit guilt.
Manson was fined a little more than US$1,400 as part of the deal, with US$200 suspended. He needs to remain arrest-free and notify local police of any New Hampshire performances for two years.
The judge, who called Manson’s acts “egregious,” agreed to allow Manson to do his community service in California. Manson mentioned to reporters that he might choose to work with people in recovery. He has to give proof of his community service by February 4.
According to a police affidavit, Manson approached videographer Susan Fountain in the venue’s stage pit area, put his face close to her camera and spit a “big lougee” at her. She was struck on both hands with saliva. He approached her again later, kneeling and covering one nostril before blowing the other on her arms and hands.
Manson “blows a significant amount of mucous at Fountain,” a police sergeant who reviewed concert video footage said in the affidavit. After that, the camera view changes and people can see Manson “point and laugh at Fountain as she gets down and walks away,” the affidavit said.