Vincent Margera
Encyclopedia
Vincent Roy Margera more commonly known as Don Vito, is an American former reality television
personality known for his appearances in Viva La Bam
, Jackass
, Haggard
and the CKY videos alongside his nephew Bam
. He was sentenced to 10 years' intensive supervised probation, for two felony convictions of sexual assault on a minor, on December 20, 2007.
. He appears in television with his family, which includes his younger brother Phil
, sister-in-law April
and nephews Jess
and Bam
. Unlike his brother Phil, who is depicted as kind, easygoing and quiet, Vito is considered to be loud and obnoxious. He is unmarried and lives in a home formerly owned by his brother in West Chester, Pennsylvania
.
Starting in 2003 he appeared in the television series Viva La Bam
where he was commonly referred to as "Don Vito," a nickname given to him by nephew Bam. The nickname referred to his near unintelligible speech reminiscent of Don Vito Corleone, of The Godfather
, as well as saluting the Margera family's Italian heritage
. In addition, Margera is obese, and is often difficult to understand while speaking (especially when frustrated or angry), forcing subtitles to be used for some of what he says in Viva La Bam. Even then, much of his dialogue is either gibberish or unintelligible. He has partial sight in one eye
. He later appeared in Haggard: The Movie
, a spin-off movie, which included many Viva La Bam cast members and appears in its sequel, Minghags.
As a result of his 2006 arrest, the stunts involving Don Vito were removed from the theatrical and DVD release of Jackass Number Two, but several stunts were briefly shown in previews leading up to his arrest. Due to the allegations, he was persona non grata among the cast for a time, and he also did not appear on Bam's new show, Unholy Union
because of his arrest. However, he was in attendance at Bam's wedding.
In early 2007, Don Vito featured in Redman's new music video
"Put It Down
", where he plays a police officer
with Donnell Rawlings
. March 20, 2007 saw the release of Vito and Ryan Dunn
starring in a Viva La Bam-like, direct-to-DVD film, entitled "Dunn and Vito's Rock Tour".
for groping
two 12-year-old girls at an autograph signing and was subsequently held with bail
set at $
50,000. He posted bond around 10:00 p.m. the following Monday. As a condition of his bond, Margera was ordered not to possess any alcohol
, drugs
, or weapons, and is not permitted to contact the victims.
During a preliminary hearing
on February 1, 2007, the arresting officer, Melissa Mayne, testified that Margera called her and a fellow officer "psycho bitches" during his arrest. He was represented by Pamela Mackey, the same lawyer who defended Kobe Bryant
. There was an arraignment
hearing on March 5, 2007 at which he pleaded not guilty. A motions hearing
occurred on May 25, 2007 and a five-day jury trial
was scheduled to begin on August 27, 2007. In August, Margera was accused of 12 felony counts for violating his bail conditions and if convicted on those counts he could receive up to 18 months in prison.
The criminal trial started October 22 in Golden, Colorado
. In court on October 24, Margera's attorney argued he was playing his "goofy, outrageous and vulgar" television persona for the young teens. The girl accusing Margera was "shocked" by his actions, according to witnesses. The prosecutor said Margera was "out of control during this public event. He was so intoxicated that he peed his pants while with these children." On the second day of testimony, a teenage boy testified that "he was sitting near the table where Margera was giving autographs and saw him grab at girls who came around the table for photos". On Friday October 27, the third day of the trial, defense attorneys portrayed Margera as a "benign bumbler" and argued that Margera's signature arm movement may have been mistaken for breast
fondling. His sister-in-law April Margera told the court "she has never seen Margera fondle anyone, on or off the show." On cross-examination, the prosecutor asked April if she saw her brother-in-law fondle girls; when she said "no", the prosecutor "showed her three pictures, one of Margera apparently trying to kiss a woman's breast and two of him apparently trying to fondle women's breasts."
The defense and prosecution made their closing statements on October 31 and the jury started to deliberate the case in late afternoon. Defense attorneys "concede he was profane and outrageous but contend he was just playing the role of Don Vito." On October 31 he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a minor and acquitted on one count. After hearing the conviction, Margera collapsed on the floor and yelled, "Just kill me now!" as guards restrained, then removed him from the room. On November 1, 2007, he was put on suicide watch
. He was held at the Jefferson County Detention Facility until his sentencing on December 20, 2007. He faced between two years to life in prison
.
On December 20, 2007, Margera was sentenced to 10 years of "serious" probation, which he will be required to serve in Pennsylvania
. He was further ordered to not portray the character of "Don Vito" in any capacity (appearing on television, writing books, autograph signings) while serving his sentence. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender
in Colorado
and Pennsylvania, to receive an evaluation of his mental health, and to work on his problems with alcohol.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
personality known for his appearances in Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
, Jackass
Jackass (TV series)
jackass is an American reality series, originally shown on MTV from 2000 to 2002, featuring people performing various dangerous, crude, ridiculous, self-injuring stunts and pranks...
, Haggard
Haggard: The Movie
Haggard: The Movie is a 2003 American independent comedy film based on the true story of how reality television personality Ryan Dunn's promiscuous girlfriend cheated on him. The film was financed, directed and produced by Bam Margera.- Plot :...
and the CKY videos alongside his nephew Bam
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
. He was sentenced to 10 years' intensive supervised probation, for two felony convictions of sexual assault on a minor, on December 20, 2007.
Life and career
Margera was born in Concordville, PennsylvaniaConcordville, Pennsylvania
Concordville is an unincorporated community in Concord Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located 20 miles west-southwest of Philadelphia, at the junction of U.S. Routes 1 and 322. This intersection can be traced back to two of the earliest roads in Pennsylvania,...
. He appears in television with his family, which includes his younger brother Phil
Phil Margera
Phillip "Phil" Margera is an American reality television personality, best known for appearing on Viva La Bam, the CKY Videos and the Jackass television series and movies...
, sister-in-law April
April Margera
April Margera is an American reality television personality, best known for her appearances on MTV's Viva La Bam, Jackass, the CKY videos, Minghags: The Movie and Bam's Unholy Union....
and nephews Jess
Jess Margera
Jesse Phillip Margera is the drummer in the band CKY, its predecessor Oil and Foreign Objects, Viking Skull, and The Company Band.-Life and career:...
and Bam
Bam Margera
Brandon Cole "Bam" Margera is an American professional skateboarder, television and radio personality, actor and daredevil. He released a series of videos under the CKY banner and came to prominence after being drafted into MTV's Jackass crew...
. Unlike his brother Phil, who is depicted as kind, easygoing and quiet, Vito is considered to be loud and obnoxious. He is unmarried and lives in a home formerly owned by his brother in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
.
Starting in 2003 he appeared in the television series Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam
Viva La Bam is an American reality television series that stars Bam Margera and his friends and family. The show was a spin-off from MTV's Jackass, in which Margera and most of the main cast had appeared...
where he was commonly referred to as "Don Vito," a nickname given to him by nephew Bam. The nickname referred to his near unintelligible speech reminiscent of Don Vito Corleone, of The Godfather
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
, as well as saluting the Margera family's Italian heritage
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
. In addition, Margera is obese, and is often difficult to understand while speaking (especially when frustrated or angry), forcing subtitles to be used for some of what he says in Viva La Bam. Even then, much of his dialogue is either gibberish or unintelligible. He has partial sight in one eye
Strabismus
Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. It typically involves a lack of coordination between the extraocular muscles, which prevents bringing the gaze of each eye to the same point in space and preventing proper binocular vision, which may adversely...
. He later appeared in Haggard: The Movie
Haggard: The Movie
Haggard: The Movie is a 2003 American independent comedy film based on the true story of how reality television personality Ryan Dunn's promiscuous girlfriend cheated on him. The film was financed, directed and produced by Bam Margera.- Plot :...
, a spin-off movie, which included many Viva La Bam cast members and appears in its sequel, Minghags.
As a result of his 2006 arrest, the stunts involving Don Vito were removed from the theatrical and DVD release of Jackass Number Two, but several stunts were briefly shown in previews leading up to his arrest. Due to the allegations, he was persona non grata among the cast for a time, and he also did not appear on Bam's new show, Unholy Union
Bam's Unholy Union
Bam's Unholy Union is an American reality series that aired on MTV and MTV Canada. It follows Bam Margera and his fiancee Missy Rothstein as they plan their wedding...
because of his arrest. However, he was in attendance at Bam's wedding.
In early 2007, Don Vito featured in Redman's new music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
"Put It Down
Put It Down
"Put it Down" is the first single from Redman's 6th album Red Gone Wild. Producer Timbaland produced and created the upbeat track used in "Put it Down". This song is unlike the traditional Redman song, in which the beat is slow and funky. "Put it Down" differs because it is completely different,...
", where he plays a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
with Donnell Rawlings
Donnell Rawlings
Donnell Rawlings is an American comedian and actor.-Career:Notable roles include appearing in Chappelle's Show, as well as making a guest appearance in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 and a cameo appearance in the music video for Jim Jones' "We Fly High"...
. March 20, 2007 saw the release of Vito and Ryan Dunn
Ryan Dunn
Ryan Matthew Dunn was an American reality television personality and daredevil best known for being a member of the Jackass and Viva La Bam crew. He hosted Homewrecker and Proving Ground...
starring in a Viva La Bam-like, direct-to-DVD film, entitled "Dunn and Vito's Rock Tour".
Arrest, trial, and conviction
On August 18, 2006, Margera was arrested at the Colorado Mills Mall in Lakewood, ColoradoLakewood, Colorado
Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
for groping
Groping
When used in a sexual context, groping is touching or fondling another person in a sexual way using the hands; it generally has a negative connotation, and is considered molestation in most societies. The term 'frotteurism' may be applied when a person rubs up against another person, typically...
two 12-year-old girls at an autograph signing and was subsequently held with bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
set at $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
50,000. He posted bond around 10:00 p.m. the following Monday. As a condition of his bond, Margera was ordered not to possess any alcohol
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
, drugs
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
, or weapons, and is not permitted to contact the victims.
During a preliminary hearing
Preliminary hearing
Within some criminal justice systems, a preliminary hearing is a proceeding, after a criminal complaint has been filed by the prosecutor, to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial...
on February 1, 2007, the arresting officer, Melissa Mayne, testified that Margera called her and a fellow officer "psycho bitches" during his arrest. He was represented by Pamela Mackey, the same lawyer who defended Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
. There was an arraignment
Arraignment
Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea...
hearing on March 5, 2007 at which he pleaded not guilty. A motions hearing
Motion (legal)
In law, a motion is a procedural device to bring a limited, contested issue before a court for decision. A motion may be thought of as a request to the judge to make a decision about the case. Motions may be made at any point in administrative, criminal or civil proceedings, although that right is...
occurred on May 25, 2007 and a five-day jury trial
Jury trial
A jury trial is a legal proceeding in which a jury either makes a decision or makes findings of fact which are then applied by a judge...
was scheduled to begin on August 27, 2007. In August, Margera was accused of 12 felony counts for violating his bail conditions and if convicted on those counts he could receive up to 18 months in prison.
The criminal trial started October 22 in Golden, Colorado
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
. In court on October 24, Margera's attorney argued he was playing his "goofy, outrageous and vulgar" television persona for the young teens. The girl accusing Margera was "shocked" by his actions, according to witnesses. The prosecutor said Margera was "out of control during this public event. He was so intoxicated that he peed his pants while with these children." On the second day of testimony, a teenage boy testified that "he was sitting near the table where Margera was giving autographs and saw him grab at girls who came around the table for photos". On Friday October 27, the third day of the trial, defense attorneys portrayed Margera as a "benign bumbler" and argued that Margera's signature arm movement may have been mistaken for breast
Breast
The breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
fondling. His sister-in-law April Margera told the court "she has never seen Margera fondle anyone, on or off the show." On cross-examination, the prosecutor asked April if she saw her brother-in-law fondle girls; when she said "no", the prosecutor "showed her three pictures, one of Margera apparently trying to kiss a woman's breast and two of him apparently trying to fondle women's breasts."
The defense and prosecution made their closing statements on October 31 and the jury started to deliberate the case in late afternoon. Defense attorneys "concede he was profane and outrageous but contend he was just playing the role of Don Vito." On October 31 he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a minor and acquitted on one count. After hearing the conviction, Margera collapsed on the floor and yelled, "Just kill me now!" as guards restrained, then removed him from the room. On November 1, 2007, he was put on suicide watch
Suicide watch
Suicide watch is an intensive monitoring process used to ensure that an individual does not die by suicide. Usually the term is used in reference to inmates in a prison, hospital, psychiatric hospital, or military bases...
. He was held at the Jefferson County Detention Facility until his sentencing on December 20, 2007. He faced between two years to life in prison
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
.
On December 20, 2007, Margera was sentenced to 10 years of "serious" probation, which he will be required to serve in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He was further ordered to not portray the character of "Don Vito" in any capacity (appearing on television, writing books, autograph signings) while serving his sentence. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender
Sex offender
A sex offender is a person who has committed a sex crime. What constitutes a sex crime differs by culture and by legal jurisdiction. Most jurisdictions compile their laws into sections such as traffic, assault, sexual, etc. The majority of convicted sex offenders have convictions for crimes of a...
in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and Pennsylvania, to receive an evaluation of his mental health, and to work on his problems with alcohol.