Jackass star Bam Margera has been released from prison after being arrested earlier this month for violating his parole for driving under the influence.
The 44-year-old TV star, who has publicly struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, was arrested earlier this month on a drunk driving charge and had been in custody in Chester County, Pennsylvania, since last Wednesday.
This is what Margera’s lawyer Michael T. van der Veen says. TMZ The star is immediately returning to treatment to “get his life back on track” after securing a court victory on Wednesday with his release.
According to sources, Margera is headed to Recovery Centers of America for inpatient treatment and his case could be officially closed once treatment is complete.
If non-compliance with treatment is reported, an arrest warrant will be issued.
Jackass star Bam Margera has been released from prison after being arrested earlier this month for violating his driving under the influence charge
Margera appeared in handcuffs Monday before Common Pleas Judge Patrick Carmody for a hearing in which a substance abuse evaluation was ordered, according to NBC10.
The West Chester, Pennsylvania, resident, who married fitness model Dannii Marie in New Mexico in May, was caught “whispering words to his wife,” who was present at the hearing, according to the network.
Van der Veen told Ny Breaking.com in a statement on Monday: ‘Judge Carmody has ordered a drug and alcohol test for tomorrow and we expect Bam to be released tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest.
“Bam is doing very well and has passed all drug and alcohol tests for the past year or more. His professional life is going well and we look forward to his release so he can continue his growth.”
During Monday’s hearing, Carmody said Margera’s history with drunk driving — he was also arrested in California in January 2018 — played a role in his decision-making process in the case, as he found it troubling that Margera had been arrested multiple times for the offense.
According to the station, Margera told the judge that his wife was a tremendous help in keeping him sober and that his misstep was the result of him going on a road trip without her.
Margera’s lawyers will soon meet with court officials and probation officers to determine the next steps. They want to place the MTV alumnus in a rehab clinic, with probation officers specifying where he should go.
According to NBC10, Margera’s attorney William J. Brennan said during a press conference following the hearing that the Jackass alumnus is a “good guy who’s an addict.”
“Everyone in the system — from the defense team to the DA’s office to the probation office to the judge — wants Bam to get what he needs, and that’s not punishment, it’s treatment … no one is here with malicious intent. It helps Bam get the necessary treatment that’s likely to be recommended for him.”
Margera is “interested in getting better” and “putting this matter behind her,” Van der Veen said during the press conference.
Margera’s attorney Michael T. van der Veen told TMZ that the star will immediately return to treatment to “get his life back on track” after securing a court victory on Wednesday with his release (expected in 2023)
Margera married fitness model Dannii Marie in New Mexico in May, before his latest arrest
Margera’s most recent arrest, on Sept. 16, was handled by Pennsylvania State Police. It was a violation of terms he agreed to when he began probation in June after pleading guilty in an April 2023 incident involving his brother at the family’s home in Pocopson, Pennsylvania.
Margera was arrested Wednesday after speaking with officials (who determined he had violated his parole) at the Justice Center and Office of Pretrial Services, which houses the county’s probation department.
The court ordered Margera to complete six months of probation under their supervision in connection with the terms of his guilty plea to two counts of disturbing the peace.
Under the terms of his request, Margera was required to submit to random drug testing and undergo mental health treatment.
Margera will also appear at a preliminary hearing on charges of driving under the influence and reckless driving.
Probation officer Bradford Griffith said Margera posed a “clear danger” to himself and others with his latest offence, according to court documents seen by the newspaper.
Griffith said Margera had failed to comply with the requirements of his probation regarding seeking help for drug and alcohol abuse.
Margera told the judge in June after his guilty plea: “I just want to say thank you for this whole situation. It’s letting me get my life together. It’s a blessing in disguise.”
The Jackass alumnus’ attorney said of Margera: “His professional life is going well and we look forward to his release so he can continue his growth.”
He told MediaNews Group In June he said he was “on the right path” – adding: “Given the path I was on with alcohol and drugs, I had to hit rock bottom to turn things around.”
According to the outlet, Margera was initially charged with simple assault and terroristic threats in the 2023 incident. Both charges were felonies that could have resulted in prison time if convicted.
During a July 2023 hearing, Margera’s older brother Jess Margera said the MTV personality had displayed “frightening and unpredictable” behavior during an April 23, 2023, incident in which he repeatedly punched him and threatened his girlfriend and parents Phillip and Jess Margera.
Jess said during a hearing, according to the outlet, “He threatened everyone. The whole house. My girlfriend looked like she just got back from Afghanistan, with PTSD.”
An arrest affidavit revealed that Margera’s parents told an officer that Bam had fled into nearby woods after the violent outburst.
Margera was fired from the 2021 film Jackass Forever after producers said he violated a health care agreement he made while starring in the film.