August 24, 2006

Bam Margera's Uncle Don Vito Formally Charged With Child Sexual Assault

By Gil Kaufman (MTV.com)

Vincent Margera, 50, uncle of "Viva La Bam" star Bam Margera, was formally charged with two counts of sexual assault on a child on Wednesday (August 23), nearly a week after police arrested him following a signing at a Lakewood, Colorado, skate park.

Both counts are class-four felonies; a spokesperson for the Jefferson County District Attorney's office said the charges don't necessarily carry a mandatory prison term, but if convicted, Margera could face two years in prison and/or probation that could last from a mandatory 10 years up to lifetime supervision.

Margera, who is being represented by Pamela Mackey - the attorney who served as counsel for Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant in his sexual-assault case in Colorado - did not speak or enter a plea during Wednesday's court appearance. He is accused of inappropriately fondling or groping two girls, ages 12 and 14, during two separate incidents at a signing event at Woodward Skatepark at Colorado Mills mall Friday night. He was held in jail without bond until Monday, when he posted $50,000 bond and was released.

Mackey filed a motion requesting that Margera be allowed to leave Colorado and return to his home in Pennsylvania, and that he be allowed to travel for business, but the court rejected that petition. He is currently not allowed to leave the state without the court's permission, but district attorney's office spokesperson Pamela Russell said the travel restrictions will be revisited during Margera's next court appearance on August 28.

A spokesperson for the Margera family did not return calls for comment at press time; Mackey, who waived the reading of the charges in open court, also could not be reached for comment.