Comedian Dave Chappelle attacker sentenced to 270 days in prison

The man who assaulted comedian Dave Chappelle onstage during his performance at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival in May has been given a sentence. A representative for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office confirmed that Isaiah Lee was sentenced to 270 days in prison after pleading no contest to one charge of misdemeanor battery and one charge of entering a restricted area during a live event. According to the Los Angeles Times, a court previously denied the request of Lee's lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Chelsea Padilla, for him to participate in a mental health diversion program, which would have led to the charges against him being dropped. Additionally, after being charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing his roommate in December 2021, Lee, 24, is still being held in custody today. According to a press statement, the charges were brought by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón in May. Furthermore, officials stated that Lee was charged after reportedly stabbing his roommate on December 2, 2021, during an altercation at an apartment in transitional housing. Gascón said the victim "recently identified Lee as the person who committed the assault he had previously reported to police" because of the amount of media attention arising from the alleged attack on Chappelle. Gascón stated, "The publicity generated by the attack on Mr. Chappelle helped police solve this crime. The incident that occurred at the Hollywood Bowl was misdemeanor conduct and rightfully referred to the City Attorney's Office. Based on the nature and severity of the December attack, Mr. Lee is now facing felony charges which my office will prosecute."

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Dave Chappelle, 48, was knocked to the ground while giving a performance at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in May after a man in a black hoodie barged onto the stage, according to sources. Security personnel and members of Chappelle's team immediately stopped the attacker, who authorities later identified as Isaiah Lee, as he tried to flee. Several others then jumped into action to aid Chappelle after the attack, including Chris Rock, who had performed earlier in the evening. Jamie Foxx "got involved in the scuffle," according to a witness, who told sources that he also went onto the stage. Moreover, police had initially stated that Lee would be charged with assault with a deadly weapon because he was allegedly carrying a "replica handgun-slash-knife," which is a felony. But, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office issued a statement on May 5 saying, in part, that the office "has referred the case to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office for misdemeanor filing consideration." L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer announced new charges against Lee a few hours after the case was submitted. Feuer claimed of the "replica handgun with a knife" that "The suspect allegedly was carrying a weapon." He continued, "This alleged attack has got to have consequences, and this afternoon, my office has filed charges alleging battery, possession of a weapon with the intent to assault, and charges relating to interfering with a performance."