Original 'Duke Boys' Caught Up in Whirlwind of Legal Troubles
Here’s a pro tip for former Hollywood stars looking to get around the law: In real life, jumping the General Lee over a bridge isn’t going to save you from Boss Hogg, and you don’t get to freeze-frame things while Waylon Jennings delivers a drawling voice-over detailing how you’re about to get out of trouble.
The Duke Boys found that one out the hard way.
According to the Daily Wire, both of the principals of “The Dukes of Hazzard” — John “Bo Duke” Schneider and Tom “Luke Duke” Wopat — have faced some serious legal trouble this past week, and not the kind you can just drive away from.
On Friday, Wopat pleaded guilty to an incident where he inappropriately touched two women who were part of a stage production he was in. However, he avoided sentencing — at least for the moment — for a drug charge connected to the arrest.
“Prosecutors say the 66-year-old was sentenced Friday to a year of probation after pleading guilty to two counts of annoying and accosting a person of the opposite sex,” Fox News reported.
“The New York City resident was charged last August with touching two female cast members while rehearsing for ’42nd Street’ at Waltham’s Reagle Music Theatre, in Massachusetts.
“He also received a continuance without a finding for one year after admitting to sufficient facts on the charge of cocaine possession. The drugs were found on his person during his arrest.”
At least he won’t be going to jail. The same can’t be said for Schneider, who is actually appealing to go back into the hoosegow because of back alimony.
Schneider was sentenced to three days in jail back in June because of more than $150,000 owed to ex-wife Elvira “Elly” Schneider.
However, he only got to complete hours of the sentence before he was back on the streets due to overcrowding.
Last week, it was discovered he had asked the court to restore the sentence, as he is “leveraged to the max” and can’t afford to make any headway on the $18,911 in monthly payments he owes his former spouse.
“I am willing and able to accept the punishment for my actions/inactions as to this matter and I request this court to impose such sentence without further delay,” Schneider said in a letter.
In spite of his troubles, Schneider still seems to have optimism and faith in the American system.
“In America, you can dream, you can pursue your dream,” he recently told Fox News. “You can become anything that you want to become.”
“You are backed by a people, you are backed by a system, you are backed by laws that help you, protect you, provide for you a road in which to get to your dream,” he added.
“In America, you are anything and everything you have the stamina, you have the gumption, to be.”
One hopes that both are able to get their lives back on track. If not, one suspects we’re going to be revisiting the Duke Boys in the future — and three days in jail or one year of probation won’t be what we’re talking about.
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