Justin Gimelstob Pleads No Contest to Misdemeanor Assault
(April 22, 2019) Former tennis pro, tennis broadcaster and coach Justin Gimelstob pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault for attacking a former friend in Los Angeles on Halloween in 2017.
The Los Angeles district attorney’s office said that the 42-year-old Gimelstob was sentenced on Monday to three years of probation, 60 days of community service and a year’s worth of anger management classes.
Prosecutors said that Gimelstob attacked Randall Kaplan from behind as they trick-or-treated with their kids on Oct. 31, 2017.
In a statement to the court on Monday, Kaplan said Gimelstob struck him multiple times and threatened to kill him. Kaplan’s wife, Madison, described being terrified as she witnessed the assault.
Kaplan statement (5/5) pic.twitter.com/nq6ptGW7uB
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) April 22, 2019
Gimelstob’s lawyer in a statement said that he pleaded no contest “to move on with his professional life.”
He has been on a leave of absence from his broadcasting duties on Tennis Channel.
Gimelstob, who is a former Australian and French Open mixed doubles champion with Venus Williams, has coached No. 10 John Isner and sits on the board of the ATP. After his initial arrest back in November, Gimelstob remained on the ATP board. He is subject to a re-election vote in Rome on May 14 by the ATP Player Council. Included on the council are Isner and No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
Statement from the ATP:
