Celebrity Mound

Former “Laguna Beach” personality Jason Wahler owes a tow truck driver $5,000 in damages for a confrontation more than two years ago, a jury in his civil trial found Thursday.

Dario Stevenson said Wahler punched him in the face and hurled racial slurs at him and other blacks during a fight in September 2006. Eight women and four men decided that Wahler committed battery during the scuffle.

Wahler, who also appeared on “The Hills,” acknowledged testimony that he used racial slurs. Jurors rejected justifications by Wahler’s attorney that his client was defending his girlfriend and was too drunk to know what he was saying.

Wahler’s attorney declined to comment Thursday after the verdict.

Stevenson, who is black, claimed he suffered emotional distress from Wahler’s slurs. Jurors agreed the celebrity’s conduct was “outrageous,” but did not find that Stevenson suffered severe emotional distress.

Jurors will return Friday to hear testimony and decide whether Stevenson deserves punitive damages. The driver’s attorney had hoped the jury would award Stevenson up to $1 million, but because of the small award announced Thursday, damages will be capped around $55,000.

While disappointed with the amount, Daniel Wagner, who represented Stevenson, said he was pleased that the jury found Wahler acted maliciously.

“This case was to right a wrong,” he said.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Jason Wahler and Katja Decker-Sadowski

American TV star JASON WAHLER has been released from prison after 18 days – and has branded the experience “humbling”. The 20-year-old star of reality show The Hills was sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to assault and being a minor showing signs of intoxication last month (Oct07). The charges related to a brawl at a Seattle hotel in April (07). Wahler was released from a Washington state prison on Tuesday (13Nov07) after serving 18 days behind bars. He tells People.com, “Jail was a very humbling experience. It gave me time to reflect and really think about my mistakes. “It made me want to really focus on my career. I spent my time reading and studying the script for my upcoming film 10,000 Doors. I am happy to be home with my family and friends and am thankful to them for getting me through this rough time.”

(source)

After completing a recent stint in rehab, Laguna Beach bad boy Jason Wahler apparently feels matrimony is the next logical step.

The reality star got engaged to his girlfriend, USC freshman tennis player Katja Decker-Sadowski, on Saturday, his rep confirms to E! News.

Wahler, 20, popped the question to Decker-Sadowski, 19, during a housewarming party at their shared Los Angeles home, with friends—including former flame Lauren Conrad—looking on.

According to People, he gifted her with a four-carat emerald-cut diamond from XIV Karat in Beverly Hills.
No wedding date has been set.

Wahler’s decision to settle down comes in the wake of four drinking-related arrests in less than a year.

In March, he was sentenced to two months in jail for punching a Los Angeles police officer, but a judge suspended his sentence after he checked into rehab in May.

Earlier this month, the same officer filed suit against Wahler and former gal-pal Kristen DeLuca, claiming the couple roughed him up while screaming racial epithets as he tried to assist a tow-truck driver last year.

Jonathan Wallace is asking for at least $200,000 in damages for assault, battery and violation of his civil rights.
Neither Wahler nor DeLuca has commented on the suit.

Aside from planning his nuptials, Wahler is due to put in an appearance on The Hills on Sept. 10. He’ll also be seen in MTV’s new show, Celebrity Rap Superstar, which airs live on Sept. 30.

If he’s still looking for work after that, he and his new fiancée could always consider starring in an episode of the music network’s true-life series, Engaged and Underage.

(source)

 

Just days after unsubstantiated rumors surfaced about his sex life, Lauren Conrad’s ex-boyfriend Jason Wahler got drunk, got arrested and got all Kramer on a Seattle police officer this weekend. The Laguna Beach and The Hills real-ebrity spewed racial slurs at an officer sent to arrest the 20-year-old for assault and criminal trespassing – Wahler’s fourth arrest in nine months.

Hotel security at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel found Wahler wrestling on the lobby floor with an unidentified man. Wahler allegedly punched the man in the mouth, ran from the lobby and then – probably hoping a camera crew would show up, hurried back.

Wahler must have been a very good wrestler, because when the police carted him off, the aspiring actor challenged the officer to a match, allegedly saying, “Come down to L.A. County and get your ass kicked!”

Wahler’s rap sheet is far more impressive than his IMDB page. According to TMZ: On March 6, he was sentenced to 60 days in an L.A. County Jail for roughing-up a tow truck driver. He’s due in court in North Carolina this month to answer to charges of resisting a public officer during an underage drinking sweep. He was also busted last August on cocaine possession and other charges in New York City.

On March 9, Wahler was released from jail at 11:22 AM, after posting $950 in bail for the assault charge, and $190 for trespassing. It would have been cool if a camera crew had been with him. The Joint would be a great spin-off show.

(via US Weekly)

Jason Wahler, star of MTV’s “The Hills” and “Laguna Beach,” pleaded no contest today to one count of battery, and was sentenced to 60 days in Los Angeles County Jail.

Wahler, 20, and model Kristin DeLuca, 25, were arrested in September 2006 after an altercation on Wilshire Blvd. The two and a group of friends were driving on Wilshire when their vehicle was blocked by a city vehicle and a tow truck attempting to move an illegally parked car. The pair jumped out of their car and got into a verbal altercation with the city employee and the tow truck drivers. Wahler punched one of the drivers and DeLuca kicked the tow operator and spit in his face. The drivers called the cops after restraining Wahler. His blood alcohol level at the time of his arrest was .22 — nearly three times the legal limit.

Wahler pleaded no contest to one count of battery, and in addition to jail time, was ordered to attend 104 AA meetings, 36 hours of anger management classes, and to stay away from all of the victims. DeLuca pleaded no contest to one count of battery and was sentenced to 24 months of probation. She also must serve 15 days working on the road with CalTrans.

Wahler and De Luca must also participate in a one-day Museum of Tolerance program because of the numerous racial slurs they uttered during the incident.

Wahler has until May 4 to turn himself in.

In a related story, Wahler was arrested just this past weekend after cops say he “resisted a public officer” during a raid against underage drinking in a North Carolina nightclub.

(via TMZ)