Kasey Kahne Due in Court for Misdemeanor Charges

Kasey Kahne is due to appear in court on January 8, 2008 for a misdemeanor battery charge involving a Homestead � Miami Speedway security guard. The incident happened last November 16, 2007.

The race car driver allegedly shoved a security guard to the ground in a confrontation at the Homestead � Miami Speedway. Kahne and his brother, Kale were seen by security guard, Archibald Hutchinson, and a Monroe County deputy sheriff, trying to enter the Homestead � Miami Speedway motorhome. The guard and the deputy sheriff stopped both Kahne and his brother and asked them to present an ID. According to Hutchinson�s police report, �One of the occupants of the vehicle wearing a bright-colored jumpsuit became belligerent and refused to produce [an] ID.� The guard said that Kasey Kahne attempted to drive past from him and the county sheriff. Kahne then got out of the golf cart, and berated the guard before shoving him to the ground. The guard said �without saying another word shove(d) me with great force from which I landed on my back and left shoulder on the entrance pavement�. Hutchinson was later treated and released from the track's infield care center.

Kahne�s brother Kale, disproves the security guard�s statement by stating that, �He (Kasey) said, 'I am going to walk to my motor home then�. One guard got in front of Kasey and grabbed him and said that you are not going anywhere. ... Kasey pushed his hands off of him. The guard lost balance and fell to the ground.� Kahne�s Gillett Evernham Motorsports home team is behind their driver, 100 percent. According to Ric Russell, president of the Gillett Evernham Motorsports, �The alleged action in this case is not consistent with the Kasey Kahne we know. It is unfortunate the issue has progressed to this point. We support our driver, Kasey Kahne, and have complete confidence in the legal process.�

Despite this statement from Kahne�s camp, the witnesses, all of them law enforcers, gave statements that supported and bolstered Hutchinson�s claim. If proven guilty, Kahne is slated to pay $ 1 000 dollars fine and to spend one year in jail.

Let this be a reminder that people will reap what they sow and hot headedness will do nothing but waste time, effort and money. The world is a lot better off without violence. If things can be talked over, then I encourage everyone to try to be diplomatic about it.

Source: Kahne sued over shoving incident with speedway guard