Marilyn Manson is set to plead no contest to a charge of blowing his nose at a videographer during a live performance in New Hampshire in 2019. The plea means that the musician does not contest the charge, but also does not admit guilt. Making it is seemingly an effort to avoid having the case go to trial next month.
If his plea is accepted when it is formally entered with the court, Manson will face a partially suspended fine of $1200 and six months of community service, and will be required to notify police of any planned performances in New Hampshire for two years, according to the Associated Press.
The case first came to public attention in 2021, when the Gilford Police Department confirmed that it had issued an arrest warrant for Manson. He faced two assault charges over his interactions with videographer Susan Fountain during the 2019 concert. First, he was alleged to have spat at the lens of her camera, which resulted in saliva hitting both of her hands. Then later it was claimed that he had blown his nose at her.
Manson initially pleaded not guilty to both charges, with his attorney Kent Barker stating 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 something commonplace in the musician’s performances over 20 years. However, he added, if any bodily fluids did make contact with Fountain, this was unintentional on Manson's part.
In a legal filing stating the intent to plead no contest to the nose-blowing charge, Barker says that prosecutors are planning to drop the first spitting-related charge.
Manson is expected to formally enter his no contest plea later today, in place of a pre-trial hearing due to take place ahead of a scheduled 7 Aug start date for the trial. Assuming the plea is accepted and Manson does avoid trial, he will also avoid a potentially more severe sentence. If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison and a $2000 fine.