Man Who Slapped Bears' Hester At Casino Pleads Guilty
SKOKIE, Ill. (CBS) -- The Mount Prospect man accused of slapping the back of Devin Hester's head at a Des Plaines casino in October pleaded guilty Thursday and avoided jail time.
Instead, Daniel G. Rago, 52, will perform 80 hours of community service and will undergo an anger-management evaluation. A judge also ordered him to pay a fine of $315 in connection with the Oct. 14 incident at the Rivers Casino.
Rago told FOX Chicago previously he is a Bears fan and did not know the man he was striking was Hester, the team's celebrated wide receiver and kick returner. Rago said he thought Hester was cutting in line at a cashier's station at the casino, but the Bears player disputed that account.
The incident was caught on a surveillance camera and Hester signed a complaint against Rago, who was later arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery. Police say Hester did not escalate the incident when he was hit and acted in a professional manner.
A prosecutor in court Thursday said Hester would have testified the battery was unprovoked and that Rago whispered in the player's ear, "You're a moron," before striking him on the head.
Rago faced up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500 fine. He has been banned from Rivers Casino.
