Nick Lachey Almost Jailed For Assaulting a Female; 98 Degrees Member Penalized With THIS Instead

After attacking a paparazzi, Nick Lachey has been forced to attend anger management programs and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. The alternative could have been worse, though - he could have been jailed.

Nick Lachey Goes Berserk on Female Pap

According to police records obtained by Page Six, the 98 Degrees member was charged with assault and violence on Jody Santos in March 2022, but did not receive formal punishment until the photographer hounded the Beverly Hills Police Department for months.

Mr. Lachey has not been charged with disorderly conduct. Instead, he is engaging in LADA's Prefiling Diversion program, which was established in 2017," the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office said in a statement released on Tuesday.

As a condition of his release, he must attend anger management programs and Alcoholics Anonymous sessions. If the Prefiling Diversion Program is successfully completed, no criminal charges will be brought."

Jody Santos observed Lachey, 49, and his wife, Vanessa Lachey, leaving Mastro's restaurant in Beverly Hills on March 27, 2022.

The "What's Left of Me" singer went berserk when he saw a paparazzo parked in her car across the street, photographing him. He ran to her car and attempted to steal her camera and phone through the passenger window.

In all her years of photographing celebrities, no one has ever attempted to hit her, Santos told the newspaper, adding that she tried to roll up the window as quickly as possible.

He then began hitting the window, Jody recalled.

No Special Treatment for 98 Degrees Member

She really thought he was going to break her hand because of how hard he was hitting the glass. She even feel astonished that he did not break the window.

Santos has "no doubt" that Nick would have "knocked her out" if she had not raised her window in time. She believes that he was only punished after she accused the district attorney's office of giving him "preferential treatment."

She said the office eventually called her up to clarify that the singer was not receiving preferential treatment. The office allegedly has a program with the courts where they don't let misdemeanors go unpunished; they must attend anger management classes and AA meetings instead.

On Saturday, April 1, Chris Kirkpatrick and Jeff Timmons of NSYNC and 98 Degrees will present a free concert starring LFO and O-Town in the Nordstrom Corridor for the mall's Y2K Pink Party. Although peak event tickets are not required, guests are strongly encouraged to register on Eventbrite. A DJ will begin playing Y2K songs at 11 a.m., while a pop-up biergarten opens in the Blossom Lounge. After the show, the DJ will continue to play and the biergarten will remain open until 8 p.m.