Boca Raton Authorities Consider Charging Actor Pesci With Battery

2/6/2006 8:42 PM PT

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


Police have confirmed that Oscar-winning actor Joe Pesci is being investigated after a fan said the star punched him in the mouth because he snapped a photo of him in a shopping center parking lot.

The "Goodfellas" star gave his account of the Jan. 22 incident last week at a Boca Raton home where he was staying, police spokesman Sgt. Jeff Kelly said. Garry Serino, who was with Pesci at the time, also gave police a statement.

Kelly did not provide details because of the investigation.

"There are two sides to every story," Kelly said.

Police were preparing to send the investigation results to the Palm Beach County prosecutors to determine whether Pesci should be charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly punching Juan Carlos Montenegro, 24.

Montenegro, a Broward Community College student, told police that afterencountering Pesci, 62, he shook the actor's hand and told him he was a bigfan. He then purchased a camera, walked toward Pesci and asked for a picture,but the actor refused, he said.

Montenegro kept asking to take a picture, and when Pesci turned, Montenegrotook the photograph. Pesci then punched him with his right fist, the reportsaid.

If Pesci is charged, he would be issued a court summons, and would not bebooked into the county jail, said Mike Edmondson, state attorney's officespokesman.

Pesci's attorney, Jay Julien, did not return a call for comment.

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