Comedian Dave Chappelle is furious with Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon over Gascon choosing not to file felony charges against a man who charged Chappelle during his stand-up routine. Gascon put the case in misdemeanor court, and Chappelle and his lawyers are urging Gascon to put the case in felony court.
Chappelle’s lawyer Garbriel Cowell told Rolling Stone magazine, “We request that DA Gascón reconsider, correct this mistake and charge this as a felony. This is what Mr. Chappelle wants. Mr. Chappelle wants this case charged as a felony.” Cowell said that this case is about protecting entertainers and making sure that anyone who attacks them is served justice, “Entertainers in Los Angeles need to know that the justice system will protect them on stage,” said Cowell.
The assailant is 23-year-old Isiah Lee. Lee is facing four misdemeanor charges. Lee charged Chappelle while Chappelle was performing, tackled him, and then pulled out a replica gun with a switchblade. Lee was charged with misdemeanor battery, misdemeanor possession of a deadly weapon with intent to assault, and two violations for his disruption of the performance. He has pleaded not guilty, with his public defender saying that he has “no prior history of violence” and that Lee never pulled out the switchblade. According to his brother, Lee had been struggling with mental health and had been in and out of homeless shelters since he moved from New York. Lee’s bail was set at $30,000 and a protective order was set saying that Lee can not be near any of Chappelle’s performance areas or his home in Ohio.
Chappelle and his lawyers are right in asking for felony charges to be brought instead of misdemeanor charges. Lee was in possession of what is clearly a deadly weapon that he could have used against Chappelle. Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said, “This alleged attack has got to have consequences.” Once again, George Gascon has shown that he does not care about victims of crimes, only the far-left and radical criminal justice policies he continues to push.
Photo Cred: Lester Cohen/WireImage
