Tuesday 9 August 2022 04:34 AM Dave Chappelle attacker will file for 'mental health diversion' trends now
The man who tackled Dave Chappelle on stage at a Los Angeles comedy show could potentially see his case dismissed if he is found mentally ill, DailyMail.com has learned.
Isaiah Lee, 23, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon after charging towards the comedian with a flick knife during his May 3 performance at the Hollywood Bowl.
Wearing a yellow prison top and blue pants, and with his hands cuffed behind his back, Lee appeared at Los Angeles downtown criminal court Monday for a pre-trial hearing.
His attorney Chelsea Padilla gave notice that she plans to file a motion asking Judge Armenui Ashvanian to send Lee for a 'mental health diversion.'
Judge Ashvanian scheduled another hearing for August 23 to hear the request, which the LA District Attorney, 'will probably object to,' prosecutor Giselle Fernandez told DailyMail.com outside the court.
Isaiah Lee, 23, appeared in LA criminal court Monday for a pretrial hearing on misdemeanor assault charges after he attacked comedian Dave Chappelle on stage in May
Lee was seen wearing a yellow prison top and blue pants, and with his hands cuffed behind his back during the court proceedings
Lee is accused of storming the Hollywood Bowl stage with a foldout knife and trying to tackle Chappelle in front of the audience on May 3
Fernandez explained that mental health diversion is a 'complicated process in which it would be argued that a defendant does not have full mental competency.'
She added that Judge Ashvanian would have to agree to the mental health diversion, and if Lee complied with all the judge's orders and the conditions of the diversion, 'the charges could be dismissed.'
Under California law, a mental health diversion would give a defendant an opportunity to go through a mental health treatment program in lieu of incarceration or traditional penalties.
The charges would be dropped upon successful completion of the program's terms and conditions.
Lee is accused of storming the Hollywood Bowl stage with a replica handgun containing a large blade that folded out of it similar to a pocket knife, and trying to tackle Chappelle in front of the audience which included high-profile guests such as Elon Musk.
People standing in the wings of the stage, including actor Jamie Foxx and rapper
