Clarkston District Court Judge Gerald McNally dropped a criminal sexual misconduct charge against shock rocker Marilyn Manson Friday (Dec 28). If the charge had held and Manson were to be convicted of the fourth degree felony charge he could have ended up serving a maximum penalty of two years in jail. 

The charge stemmed from an alleged incident at DTE Energy Music Theatre in suburban Detroit last July while Manson was touring with the Ozzfest. A security guard working at the venue alleged that a g-string wearing Manson wrapped his legs around his head and neck and proceeded to rub his crotch against the shocked guard. 

After hearing testimony from the security guard, Joshua Keasler, the judge agreed with Manson�s defense position that the act was perpetrated for the shock value of Manson�s performance and not for sexual gratification. Judge McNally reduced the felony charge to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and let a separate charge of assault and battery stand. If convicted of the two misdemeanor charges Manson would have to pay a fine of $2000 for each charge but would not be sentenced to incarceration. 

Manson is due back in court for pretrial hearings on the two misdemeanor charges on March 18th.  

Manson is also facing a civil suit for a similar incident with a security guard in Minneapolis. (Read Story)
 

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