Legal Proceedings and Charges
The legal action against Gibbs began in earnest when Austrian authorities issued a European arrest warrant. Gibbs was detained by French police in Toulouse on June 23, 2016, just hours before a scheduled concert at Le Rex. The arrest forced the cancellation of the performance and other European tour dates, including shows in London, Marseille, and Porto. Following his detention in France, Gibbs was extradited to Austria in late July to face questions regarding the ongoing investigation.
Upon arriving in Vienna, Gibbs was initially held at the Wien-Josefstadt jail. On Wednesday, prior to his release, prosecutors formally charged him with sexual abuse. The specific allegation was that after a concert on July 6, 2015, Gibbs spiked the drinks of two female fans, aged 16 and 17 at the time, and subsequently abused one of them while she was in a defenseless state. Under Austrian law, the charge carried a potential prison sentence of up to ten years.
Defense and Bail Conditions
Throughout the pre-trial phase, Gibbs’ legal team maintained his innocence. Theodore Simon, Gibbs’ US-based lawyer, stated that the charges were “trumped up” and questioned the delay in bringing them forward, noting that the alleged incident occurred nearly a year before the arrest. Simon emphasized that there was an “absence of any scientific, physical, or credible evidence” to support the accusations.
In Vienna, local lawyer Thomas Kralik argued that there was “no objective evidence” that Gibbs had engaged in sexual activity with the complainant. Gibbs was released on bail on Thursday following the formal charging, having paid a bond of €50,000 and surrendered his passport. As a condition of his release, he was barred from leaving Austria while the case remained open. Court officials confirmed that these measures were standard procedural steps to ensure his presence during the trial.
Verdict and Implications
The court’s decision to acquit Gibbs means he is legally cleared of the criminal charge. The ruling does not necessarily resolve all civil matters, but it concludes the state’s prosecution against him. Following the verdict, Gibbs’ legal team described the acquittal as a vindication of their client’s character, stating that the trial confirmed the lack of substantive evidence against him.
In a statement released after the verdict, Gibbs expressed gratitude to his fiancée Erica Dickerson, his manager Ben “Lambo” Lambert, and his support team. The defense highlighted that the acquittal allows Gibbs to return to the United States and resume his professional career. The case also involved allegations against one of Gibbs’ bodyguards, who was accused of forcing himself upon the women; however, Austrian authorities were unable to question the individual as he had returned to the US. With the acquittal, the immediate legal obstacles to Gibbs’ return to his home country have been removed.
