Marilyn Manson has been sentenced to 20 hours of community service after pleading guilty to blowing his nose on a videographer in 2019.
The rocker, 54, was forced to appear in person for the hearing in Laconia, New Hampshire, where he faced two felony charges of assault.
He is accused of blowing his nose and spitting on Susan Fountain during his concert at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on August 19, 2019.
Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, pleaded no contest to the charges in a negotiated plea deal with prosecutors in Belknap County Superior Court.
Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other charge, which alleged he spit on the videographer.
The rocker, 54, was forced to appear in person for the hearing in Laconia, New Hampshire, where he faced two felony charges of assault.
He is accused of blowing his nose and spitting on Susan Fountain during his concert at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on August 19, 2019.
He was given 20 hours of community service, to be completed within six months, and was fined $1,400, with $200 suspended.
Manson must notify local police of any performances he plans to perform in New Hampshire for two years and remain free of arrests.
According to a police affidavit, Mason walked up to Fountain in the venue’s stage area, put his face close to her camera and spit “a big lougee” at her.
She had saliva on both her hands and was approached by Manson a second time, where he knelt and blew his nose on her arms and hands.
In a victim impact statement to the court, Fountain said: “For me, I am a professional person and I have been in this industry for 30 years.
‘I have worked for many companies and in all the years I have worked with people, I have never been humiliated or treated like this by this defendant.
‘For him to spit on me and blow his nose on me was the most disgusting thing anyone has ever done.
“I understand this wasn’t a major criminal charge initially, but I hoped the defendant would receive a sentence that would make him think twice before doing something like this again.”
Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the other charge, which alleged he spit on the videographer
Manson must notify local police of performances he plans to perform in New Hampshire for two years and remain free from arrest
Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, pleaded no contest to the charges in a negotiated plea deal with prosecutors in Belknap County Superior Court.
A police sergeant who reviewed footage of the incident said Manson “blows a significant amount of mucus at Fountain.” She was not present in the courtroom.
During Monday’s hearing, Manson only said “yes” to the judge’s questions about whether he understood the proceedings and made no statement.
He initially pleaded not guilty to both charges in 2021, and was scheduled to stand trial in August.
Lawyers for the star say the type of filming Fountain did often exposes videographers to “incidental contact” with bodily fluids.
During the sentencing of Manson, who was referred to in court by his legal name, the judge described his actions as ‘egregious’.
Manson said WMUR that he wanted to work with people in recovery during his court-imposed community service. The judge allowed him to complete it in California.
He must provide proof of his community service before February 4. The rocker appeared in court in a black suit, with his signature dark hair and sunglasses.
Prosecutor Andrew Livernois said it was his first offense and he had no criminal record at the time of the court hearing.
During Monday’s hearing, Manson only said “yes” to the judge’s questions about whether he understood the proceedings and made no statement.
Lawyers for the star say the type of filming Fountain did often exposes videographers to “incidental contact” with bodily fluids.
Had Manson gone to trial on the charges, each could have resulted in a prison sentence of less than a year and a $2,000 fine if convicted
In a court filing, his attorney, Kent Barker, wrote: “The defendant’s actions over the past twenty years are known to include shocking and suggestive antics similar to those that occurred here.
“The alleged victim agreed to expose himself at close range to possible contact with sweat, saliva and mucus.”
Had Manson gone to trial on the charges, each could have resulted in a prison sentence of less than a year and a $2,000 fine upon conviction.
In May, a California judge threw out key parts of Manson’s lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood, alleging she fabricated allegations that he sexually and physically abused her.
The suit was filed in 2022 and alleges that Wood and Illma Gore defamed Manson, deliberately caused him emotional distress and derailed his career in music, TV and film.
Several women have sued Manson over sexual abuse allegations, with the majority dismissed or settled.