Fan found guilty of misdemeanor battery for shove of McCaskey

ByABC News
August 5, 2015, 9:32 AM

— -- A 58-year-old New Orleans Saints fan was found guilty of a misdemeanor Tuesday for shoving Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey at Soldier Field in December 2014.

A Cook County (Illinois) judge found Richard Kohnke of New Orleans guilty of a misdemeanor charge of battery with insulting or provoking conduct. Kohnke was sentenced to six months of court supervision.

The incident happened on Dec. 15, when the Bears were hosting the Saints and McCaskey spotted several Saints fans sitting in his seats. The Chicago Bears said at the time that McCaskey talked to the fans briefly and as he walked away to find stadium security, Kohnke got up and approached McCaskey from behind and pushed him in the back, shoving him to the ground.

A Bears fan immediately came to McCaskey's aid, according to the team, and tackled the Saints fan. McCaskey did not require medical attention.

According to the New Orleans Advocate, Kohnke claimed that he pushed McCaskey in "a defensive move" after the Bears chairman "jumped in front of me to impede my progress."

Shortly after, security arrived and ejected Kohnke from the stadium. 

"The judge chose to buy the prosecution's story -- that's it," Kohnke said, according to the Advocate. "The judge thought I should've found an usher."

Kohnke, who is a lawyer in New Orleans, said he has no plans to return to Soldier Field, according to the newspaper.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.