If one thing’s for sure, New Orleans knows how to party. There’s a reason why so many tourists flock to town for Mardi Gras every year and why Bourbon Street’s nightlife comes alive after sundown. Unfortunately, sometimes tourists run into unexpected trouble when visiting the town. Even a few popular celebrities have been arrested on the streets of New Orleans! Here are three famous people you may know who found trouble on our city streets.
Nicolas Cage
While staying in the Big Easy during a movie shoot in 2011, Nicolas Cage and his wife Alice visited the French Quarter for an evening out on the town. As the night wound down, Cage and Alice began arguing in front of a home where he believed they were staying while in town. She disagreed, and they began arguing on the street, with Cage becoming increasingly angry and pounding on vehicles. An officer approached, and an intoxicated Cage attempted to get into a cab, but the officer ordered him out. He was taken into custody and charged with domestic battery and disturbing the peace. He was released on an $11,000 bond, and the charges were later dropped.
Bam Margera
As tourists sometimes do, the skateboarder and star of “Jackass” and “Viva La Bam” found it hard to stay out of trouble in the Big Easy during a visit. In February 2012, Margera was arrested during a Mardi Gras party at a hotel in the French Quarter. After Margera jumped into the hotel pool fully clothed, an officer on duty for the hotel escorted him, soaking wet, out of the hotel and to the police station. The hotel decided not to press charges, and Margera was released.
Russell Brand
A month after Margera’s arrest, Russell Brand ran into trouble with the law while filming in NOLA. He turned himself in after police issued a warrant for his arrest stemming from an incident with a photographer. A few days prior, Brand had grabbed an iPhone out of the hands of a photographer taking pictures of him on the street, throwing it through the window of a local Warehouse District business. Brand posted $5,000 bail, and he was later ordered to complete community service and pay a $500 fine. He also immediately replaced the broken window, but it’s unclear what happened to the iPhone.
Even celebrities aren’t immune from losing control in the Big Easy, and sometimes life needs a reset button for them, too. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation where you’ve been charged with a crime, work with NOLA Criminal Law to have some of the best criminal defense attorneys in the city on your side. Call us today at (504) 571-9529 for a free consultation with a trusted criminal defense lawyer for any charges.
