Puddle of Mudd Front Man Charged for Destroying Foreclosed Home

Wesley Scantlin, frontman for the rock band Puddle of Mudd, missed a court appearance Wednesday on felony vandalism and misdemeanor trespassing charges for allegedly damaging a home north of West Hollywood that he lost to foreclosure.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Sergio C. Tapia II ordered the 43-year- old singer’s bond to be forfeited after noting that he had failed to appear before the lunch break.

The judge issued but held a warrant for Scantlin, who is now set to appear at the downtown courthouse on Friday.

Attorney Steven L. Szocs told the judge that his client had missed a flight and that it appeared his wallet had either been lost or stolen.

Scantlin faces up to three years in jail if convicted of the charges filed Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said Scantlin recently lost the home in the 1500 block of Sunset Plaza Drive, in the hills north of Sunset Boulevard, to foreclosure. He allegedly broke a window trying to get back in the house, but when he was unable to do so, he got a locksmith to change the locks, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

He allegedly ripped an alarm system out of a wall and vandalized a garage door and plumbing, causing about $7,000 in damage. He was arrested at the home Jan. 9 and released the same day on a $20,000 bond.

Scantlin made headlines earlier this week when he had a melt-down during a concert in Ohio, glaring at a fan and accusing him of stealing his house. Scantlin went on a roughly five-minute, profanity-filled rant, then stormed off stage.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the US Navy