At a Glance
- Lenny Dykstra faces new drug charges after police found drugs in his vehicle.
- Lawyer says he was not under influence and the vehicle did not belong to him.
- Dykstra has a long history of legal troubles, including fraud and theft.
- Why it matters: The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of former athletes and their legal challenges.
Lenny Dykstra, 62, was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by a trooper on New Year’s Day in Pike County, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Scranton.
New Charges
Police said charges will be filed but did not specify the exact nature or the drugs involved. The trooper found drugs and paraphernalia in the passenger seat.
Matthew Blit stated:
> “To the extent charges are brought against him, they will be swiftly absolved,”
Legal History
Dykstra’s career includes a series of legal issues:
- In the 2000s, he served more than six months in California prison for bankruptcy fraud and a concurrent three-year sentence for grand theft auto and false financial statements.
- In 2012, he pleaded no contest to exposing himself to women he met through Craigslist.
- In 2019, he pleaded guilty for illegally renting rooms in a New Jersey house, paying about $3,000 in fines.
- That same year, a judge dropped drug and terroristic threat charges after an altercation with an Uber driver; police found cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana among his belongings.
- In 2020, a New York Supreme Court judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit Dykstra filed against former Mets teammate Ron Darling.
| Year | Charge | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | Bankruptcy fraud, grand theft auto | Prison sentences |
| 2012 | Exposing himself to Craigslist women | No contest plea |
| 2019 | Illegal room rentals | Guilty plea, $3,000 fine |
| 2019 | Drug and terroristic threat charges | Dropped |
| 2020 | Defamation lawsuit | Dismissed |
Justice Robert D. Kalish wrote:
> “Based on the papers submitted on this motion, prior to the publication of the book, Dykstra was infamous for being, among other things, racist, misogynist, and anti-gay, as well as a sexual predator, a drug-abuser, a thief, and an embezzler.”
Key Takeaways
- Dykstra faces new drug charges following a traffic stop.
- His lawyer argues he was not under the influence and the vehicle was not his.
- The case adds to a long list of legal troubles spanning fraud, theft, and other offenses.
The latest charges underscore the persistent legal scrutiny surrounding former professional athletes.
