Los Angeles prosecutors filed misdemeanor charges against two men accused of interrupting Ryan Lochte’s performance on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Sam Sotoodeh, 59, and Barzeen Soroudi, 25, are each charged with two misdemeanors: leaving a spectator area and entering the stage and interrupting a performance. They could each face a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office told TheWrap.
Their arraignment is set for October 4.
During the season premiere of “Dancing With the Stars,” Sotoodeh and Soroudi charged the stage screaming “liar” at Lochte — after the Olympian’s claim that he was robbed at the Rio Summer Olympics was proven false.
Lochte later apologized for “over-exaggerating” the story and was later banned from professional swimming for 10 months by the United States Olympic Committee.
Sotoodeh and Soroudi were arrested on misdemeanor trespassing charges and released the following day on $1,000 bail.
The show says it conducted “a full evaluation of security procedures” following the incident.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.