Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that American boxer Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) has been officially charged with vandalism following his arrest on June 8th for allegedly damaging the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Beverly Hills.
The 25-year-old boxer is scheduled to appear in court on August 7th. If found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.
"We are pleased that there were no reports of injuries in this incident, but reckless behavior causing property damage demonstrates a clear and unacceptable disregard for the safety and tranquility of our community. Our office will work to ensure that the responsible party is held accountable," said Gascón.
Police reported that Ryan caused approximately $15,000 in damages. The official charge pertains to damage or destruction of property worth $400 or more.
The boxer's attorney stated that Garcia apologized to the hotel staff and compensated for the damage he caused.
"The past few months have been challenging for Ryan, and he understands that he has reached a turning point in both his personal life and career.
He knows that he must focus on his well-being and mental health issues moving forward. There is no other option. He apologizes to everyone he has offended with his behavior and words and hopes that his investment in his own well-being will demonstrate the sincerity of his apologies," said the attorney.
Garcia himself is confident that he will not face jail time, as he wrote on Twitter: "I’m not going to jail."
In April, Ryan secured a decision victory over Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs). However, Garcia failed to make weight before the fight and couldn’t contend for the title. After the bout, it was revealed that Garcia tested positive in three doping tests, leading to the annulment of his victory over Haney. Garcia received a one-year suspension.
Later, Ryan became embroiled in a racist scandal due to his tweets and announced that he is battling drug addiction and will undergo treatment in a rehabilitation center.