Pete Davidson has been placed on an 18-month “diversion programme” after the actor was charged with reckless driving in connection with a car crash in Beverly Hills earlier this year.
In March, the Saturday Night Live alum was driving with girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders, 27, when his Mercedes reportedly went over the curb, hitting a fire hydrant and crashed into the side of a house in the salubrious LA suburb.
According to several outlets, including The Blast and TMZ, the 29-year-old’s lawyers struck a deal with Los Angeles prosecutors last week ahead of his scheduled arraignment date on Thursday.
In light of the reports, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office confirmed to media on Monday that Davidson must complete the programme as an alternative to prosecution.
According to NBC, the programme will require him to do 12 hours of traffic school and 50 hours of community service, which he can complete in his native New York.
Davidson’s counsel indicated his service is likely to be completed at the New York Fire Department.
The comedian has a personal connection to the NYFD as his father Scott was a NYFD firefighter who died helping in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
The Standard has contacted Pete Davidson’s rep for comment.
In June, a spokesperson for the LACDA confirmed to PA that Davidson was charged with one misdemeanour count of reckless driving.
The statement read at the time: “We believe that Mr. Davidson engaged in reckless driving, which ultimately resulted in his involvement in a serious collision into a home.
“Luckily, no one was seriously injured as a result of this collision. We know that reckless driving can have devastating consequences.”
The news comes after it was reported that Davidson was receiving in-patient therapy in a Pennsylvania facility after struggling with borderline personality disorder and PTSD.
He has been open about his mental health ever since he was diagnosed with a personality disorder in 2017 after years of experiencing bouts of depression and anxiety.
As well as SNL, the comedian is also known for his appearances in films including Bodies Bodies Bodies, The Suicide Squad, and Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts.
