A judge yesterday formally ordered Marilyn Manson to serve 20 hours of community service and pay around $1400 in fines in relation to his interactions with videographer Susan Fountain during a 2019 concert in New Hampshire.
The musician will be allowed to complete his community service in California and, outside the court, he said he planned to do so by working with "people in recovery". He will also have to alert local police if he plays any concerts in New Hampshire in the next two years.
Manson faced two assault charges over allegations that he spat at and then blew his nose on Fountain as she filmed his performance.
The musician initially pleaded not guilty, arguing that - by filming up close to Manson - Fountain had “consented to exposing herself to potential contact with sweat, saliva and phlegm in close quarters”, as this was commonplace in the musician’s performances over 20 years.
However, he subsequently pleaded no contest to the charge relating to the allegation he deliberately placed his hand over one of his nostrils and then launched a "significant amount of mucus" at the videographer. The other charge was subsequently dropped.
By pleading no contest, Manson was basically confirming that he would not contest the charge in court, but without admitting guilt. Doing so prevented the case from going to a full trial.
In a statement read in court yesterday, Fountain said: "I've never been humiliated or treated like I was by this defendant. For him to spit on me and blow his nose on me was the most disgusting thing a human being has ever done".
The judge overseeing the case described Manson's behaviour as "egregious" before confirming the fine and community service sentence.
