Michael Vitar: ‘The Sandlot’ Star Charged With Felony Assault After Allegedly Beating Man

Yikes! Former teen star Michael Vitar is facing prison time after allegedly beating a man on Halloween night. You may remember him best from ‘The Sandlot,’ but the now-firefighter is accused of putting a 22-year-old’s life in danger!

Oh no! Former teen actor Michael Vitar, 36, is staring down some hard time – including a possible 4 year jail sentence – following charges that he and two friends allegedly beat a man who was handing out Halloween candy to kids in Michael’s neighborhood. How could our beloved hero Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from the 1993 classic The Sandlot do that to someone!?

Mike is best known for being the hero to put on his P.F. Flyers and go over the fence The Sandlot, and he also went on to star in D2: The Mighty Ducks and the third film D3: The Mighty Ducks. But he gave up acting after high school and became a real life hero, choosing a career as a paramedic and eventually landing a job with the Los Angeles Fire Department in 2002. He was with a fellow firefighter Eric Carpenter and another pal Thomas Molnar on Halloween Night when the alleged assault occurred.

According to court documents, a 22-year-old man returned to his old neighborhood on Halloween night, the same area where Mike currently lives. The man began handing out candy to trick or treating children when Mike and Eric wanted him gone, by chasing him down and beating him up according to court documents. But an attorney for Thomas says, “They believed he posed a danger to children in the area by trying to pass out candy against the consent of the adults. These are really good people, two firefighters and my client who is successful businessman,” Arthur Avazian told KNBC.
Mike’s pal Eric is in even bigger trouble as he allegedly tried to choke the victim, so he’s staring down the additional charge of personally inflicting great bodily injury, L.A. prosecutors said. The LAPD’s elite Robbery/Homicide Division conducted the investigation, which resulted in the arrest of Mike and his pals. He was later released on $30,000 bail. Both men have been put on administrative leave with pay by the LAFD while the case proceeds.