Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr., 25, Guilty Plea Entered In Assault Near Ryan Seacrest

Friday, September 18, 2009
Guilty plea entered in assault near Ryan Seacrest of 'Idol'
Lakewood man is sentenced to 15 days in jail after incident outside Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
BY DENISSE SALAZAR and RACHANEE SRISAVASDI
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced to 15 days in jail today after admitting to assaulting a security guard who stopped him from getting into a car with “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest after a fundraising event at Children's Hospital of Orange County.

Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr., 25, of Lakewood, pleaded guilty in Orange County Superior Court to three misdemeanors: assault, battery and possession of a switchblade knife 2 or more inches long.

Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm sentenced him to 15 days in jail and three years probation and ordered to stay away from CHOC and Ryan Seacrest.

The incident started to unfold around 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday, after Seacrest had been at the hospital broadcasting his KIISfm morning radio show as part of a fundraiser.

Seacrest signed autographs for fans who had gathered outside the hospital, including one to Uzomah, said Orange Police Sgt. Dan Adams.

As Seacrest got into a car, Uzomah tried to get past security guards to get to the car, Adams said, adding that the guards told him to leave the area.

“As that was happening, Seacrest pulled away in the vehicle,” Adams said. “He was not even aware of the disturbance or the subsequent assault on the security guard or the arrest.”

Uzomah refused to comply and put his arm around the security officer’s neck and started choking him, Adams said. Guards helped subdued Uzomah until police officers arrived.

Uzomah was accused of choking the security guard to the point where he nearly became unconscious, Adams said.

Uzomah was carrying an illegal switchblade knife at the time of the arrest, police said.

“The knife was not brandished or used during the incident,” Adams said.

“He didn’t give any motive or idea for why he tried to get past security and into Ryan Seacrest’s car,” Adams said.

Schwarm ordered that Uzomah’s knife be destroyed by Orange police.

Schwarm gave Uzomah sentencing credit of four days for time spent in custody since his arrest.

Uzomah, who had faced a maximum of a year in jail on the misdemeanors, negotiated his plea with prosecutors.

http://www.ocregister.com/photos/orange-uzomah-adams-2571907-arrest-police

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