Dave Chappelle's Attacker Sentenced to 270 Days in Jail
Isaiah Lee, who attacked Dave Chappelle onstage during his set at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival in May, has been sentenced to 270 days in jail.
According to People, Lee pleaded no contest to one charge of misdemeanor battery and one charge of entering a restricted area during a live event.
Lee himself was injured in the attack, suffering a broken arm. Only months later, he was charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing his roommate at a transitional housing apartment building the previous year.
"The publicity generated by the attack on Mr. Chappelle helped police solve this crime," Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said at the time. "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."
A judge previously rejected a request from Lee's attorney to have his charges in the Chappelle attack dismissed due to mental health issues. Lee was charged with two misdemeanor charges in the case—something that didn't sit well with Chappelle.
Chappelle's attorney Gabriel Cowell told the New York Post in May that the comedian was "upset" that the attack didn't warrant felony charges. “This was a violent assault that was perpetrated on an unsuspecting entertainer while he was giving a show in front of thousands of people at the historic Hollywood Bowl,” Colwell said.
He added, “Entertainers in LA need to know this is a justice system that will protect them. There is no question here that when someone is violently assaulted by another in possession of a deadly weapon that it should be charged as a felony.”
Lee was found to have a hand-fashioned knife but didn't brandish it at Chappelle. At the time, Gascón noted, "It would be unethical to charge someone with a felony when the elements of the statute are not met."
During the attack, Lee attacked Chappelle during his set and attempted to flee, and he was stopped by security guards and members of Chappelle's team. Eyewitness reports note that other celebs, including Chris Rock and Jamie Foxx, rushed the stage to assist.
Lee is currently in police custody for the alleged stabbing incident with his roommate.