#RHONY Jason Hoppy Rejects Plea Deal Over Bethenny Frankel Harassment and Stalking Allegations

Real Housewives of New York star, Bethenny Frankel’s ex, Jason Hoppy appeared in a New York court on Monday (March 13) to answer charges of stalking and harassment.

Jason kept a poker face during the proceedings. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, stood next to him as they addressed Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Abena Darkeh.

Jason had been offered a plea deal which would have dropped two of the three charges against him. In exchange for pleading guilty to harassment violation and agreeing to attend anger management, Jason could have gotten off with a slap on the wrist. Instead, he refused to take the deal.

He’s next due in court on April 26 and has been ordered to stay away from Bethenny.

Bethenny filed a harassment report on January 17, accusing Jason of stalking and threatening her outside their daughter, Bryn’s school. Her boyfriend at the time, Dennis Shields, witnessed Hoppy’s behavior. According to Bethenny, Jason said, “There’s nothing you can do to stop me. You’ll be sorry. You’ve been warned. I can’t help it.”

Then he allegedly turned to Dennis and said, “You’ve been warned. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Sheilds’ lawyer had previously sent Hoppy a cease and desist letter for his ongoing harassment which included 150 emails in less than three months, multiple threats over facetime, and making verbal threats to her personally.

Jason called the allegations “comical.”

He was arrested at his apartment on January 27, and after being charged, was allowed to go home.

Bethenny’s lawywer, Barry Zone, said that his client had endured a great deal of “abuse” from her ex.

“Ms. Frankel’s decision to report Mr. Hoppy’s abusive behavior followed years of systematic bullying, harassment, stalking and torment on an almost daily basis.

“Indeed, Mr. Hoppy has sent hundreds of escalating texts and emails to Ms. Frankel, her assistants and her boyfriend, demanding that she meet with Mr. Hoppy unnecessarily, stating that “I”ll never go away” and that “[y]ou left me no choice but to go to extremes”, claiming that her “definition of harassment is comical” and that he will “continue to communicate with [her] as [he] see[s] fit”, requesting copies of her life insurance policy, and telling her that “I”ll pray for you.”

He continued:

“These acts of mental and psychological abuse are domestic violence, pure and simple. No woman, celebrity or not, deserves to have their allegations of such abuse taken lightly, and we are grateful to the NYPD for their immediate action to protect Ms. Frankel.”

Hoppy’s attorney at the time, Mr. Gottlieb stated:

“There are no words to express how saddened Mr. Hoppy is over his ex-wife’s unjustified actions. His only concern is his daughter and intends to vigorously fight these false charges. We look forward to having all the evidence and the truth exposed in a courtroom.”

What are your thoughts? And are you dying over the irony of Bethenny’s attorney using the words, “systematic bullying” in his statement?

 

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