Standing on principle, Rich opts to fight it out in court.
No one can accuse country singer-songwriter-producer John Rich of not standing up for what he believes is right, even if it means getting arrested, which was the case on Thursday, May 28.
The multi-platinum, Texas-born musician turned himself in to Music City police, then immediately posted a $3,000 bond this week after being arrested on assault and harassment charges that were filed by a season No. 4 Nashville Star contestant, Jared Ashley.
The misdemeanor charges against Rich—who's one-half country's Big & Rich duo and one-time member of Lonestar, not to mention a former Nashville Star judge—represent the latest turn of events in a continuing disagreement between Rich and Ashley.
According to media reports, the stress-inducing feud-turned-lawsuit stems back to March 13, 2009, when Ashley reportedly entered Rich’s Nashville-based private club, the Spot, without permission. The story goes that Ashley, after being asked to leave the members-only club but refusing, was removed from the venue, which is located on Broadway in Guitar Town.
The following week, Ashley filed said charges against Rich. Per a statement from Rich that was delivered via the country star’s attorney, "Singer Jared Ashley and Music Row attorney Chris Sevier demanded I pay $2.9 million in exchange for dropping false misdemeanor charges that they levied against me. They filed the misdemeanor charges in retaliation to the civil suit regarding defamation that I filed against Jared Ashley. I refused to pay the $2.9 million and instead opted to turn myself in and fight this in court."
Thus, the bottom line, Rich said this week, is that the charges filed against him have no merit. Furthermore, Rich—whose current solo CD has yielded a country favorite with its “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” single—has claimed in his own lawsuit filing that Ashley defamed him during an interview with a Florida radio station when he falsely stated that Rich hit him in the face during an altercation at the Spot.
The author's 2 cents: It looks like somebody’s trying to milk his 15 minutes of fame, and if such is the case, methinks he’s destined to be a blip on the screen that nobody will recall when all is said and done.
Comments
Lisa..
This is good stuff.
I want to start using / creating links to all your articles from my online country music magazine.
I got knocked out of comission for a few months (Illness), but i back to my oldself.
Leaving Thursday to cover the CMA Music Festival, & CMT Music Awards (red carpet credentialed).
Between your articles,and my pictures..we could both benefit.
Drop me a line and let me know if you're interested or not.
Thank-you
DavidMills@FrontRowNews.com
Don't you just love it when lawyers get involved. I with John all the way. People that sue for things like this should have to pay dearly.
I had the opportunity to talk with John at the 2007 ASCAP Expo in LA before a show. He was one of the most accomodating celeb's I've met. Just have a real hard time believing this. I personally would never want to be anywhere that my presence would be questionable. Hard to understand the young mans demeaner here. We hope the courts allow John to vendicate himself with dignity in the months to come.
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