'The Sandlot' Star Michael Vitar Charged With Assault in Halloween Beating

By
20th Century Fox

Michael Anthony Vitar, better known as Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez in 1993’s backyard baseball classic, The Sandlot, has been charged with assaulting a man on Halloween, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in an official release on Tuesday.

Vitar, who also starred in the two Mighty Ducks sequels, D2 and D3, is now a Los Angeles city firefighter. He was attending a Halloween party at the home of another off-duty firefighter, Eric Carpenter, when the alleged assault occurred.

PHOTOS: 'D2: The Mighty Ducks' Cast Reunites After 20 Years

Vitar and Carpenter, along with a third man, Thomas Molnar, allegedly “became upset when a 22-year-old man visiting his grandmother in the area was handing out candy to kids as he walked down the street,” Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Chung, who is prosecuting the case, said in the D.A.’s statement.

“After chasing the victim down the street, the three defendants reportedly jumped him,” the report continues. “They then allegedly forced the victim to the ground before Carpenter choked him, according to the prosecutor.”

All three men are being charged with one count each of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. Carpenter is being charged with personally inflicting great bodily injury on the victim. They were scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, but the court appearance was continued to Jan 21.

If convicted, Vitar and Molnar face up to four years in state prison. Carpenter could face up to seven years for his increased charge.

PHOTOS: Busted! Hollywood's Most Memorable Mugshots