Stab Magazine | Chris Ward In Maximum Security Jail

Watch Now: Micky Clarke's Octo Part 'Circuit Bender'

2820 Views

Chris Ward In Maximum Security Jail

Sixty days behind bars for Ward.

news // Jun 30, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Enigmatic regular-footer, Chris Ward, is currently in the Theo Lacy Facility, a maximum security jail in Orange County, after being charged with allegedly assaulting his wife, Michele, last year.

According to the below Legal record, Ward was taken into custody on June 17. Stab was told by a representative at the Theo Lacy Facility that on June 25, Ward was sentenced to 60 days in jail.

Screen Shot 2016 06 29 at 11.04.25 am

According to the charging document filed against Chris originally: On August 18, 2015, Wardo was charged with committing misdemeanor domestic battery resulting in traumatic condition against his wife, Michele. On April 7th of this year, Chris entered a plea of guilty to that same charge of domestic battery, admitting that, “On or about 2/16/15 in Orange County, I willfully and unlawfully inflicted corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition upon Jane Doe, whom I was cohabiting with at the time.” He entered that plea of guilty with a negotiated sentence that included three years of probation and 60 days to be spent in county jail. Chris is eligible for what’s commonly known as “half time”, meaning as long as he behaves himself, he will serve 30 days of the 60. Because he pled to a crime of domestic violence he is required to attend 52 weeks of domestic violence classes, from which he has already been terminated for excessive absences and had a violation of probation filed against him (that is still pending at this time). 

The incident was first brought to light in December when Michele used Ward’s Instagram account to upload a photo of her bruised and battered face. The caption stated: “I’m a professional athlete. I love my wife. But I spread lies about her. So here’s the truth. This is how I love. Truth is here.“ The photo was removed from IG within the hour it was posted. 

wards wife

An uncomfortable public back-and-forth ensued on Facebook. But an outwards facing view of their relationship has since taken on a more positive light. Two weeks ago, Michele posted a sentiment on their ups and downs:

Screen Shot 2016 06 29 at 12.41.04 pm

This isn’t Ward’s first run-in with the law; He was arrested outside of the Whiskey Creek Bar in Mammoth Lakes, California in January, 2008 and charged with “assault with weapon other than firearm” after allegedly threatening one woman with a chunk of ice and punching another woman who tried to intervene.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

What’s It Like Seeing Your $160K Camera Go Over The Falls At 15ft Chopes?

Phantom man Chris Bryan talks getting bear clawed in Abu Dhabi, and the highly specialised…

Oct 27, 2026

The Untold Story Of Shane Dorian’s First Paddle Wave At Jaws

“Next thing you know, I hear everyone on the cliff screaming and whistling.”

Oct 26, 2026

Menaces To The Establishment: Sierra Kerr & Erin Brooks | StabMic Ep.36

Who’ll have the bigger trophy cabinet when all’s said and done?

Oct 26, 2026

Watch: Inflation Point — The Story Of Big-Wave Surfing’s Most Notorious Invention

How a handful of near-death experiences, tragic losses, and some clever engineering changed surfing forever.

Oct 23, 2026

Griff Is The King Of Peniche, Molly Goes Green-To-Yellow At Pumping Supertubos

The Rip Curl Pro Portugal ends on the highest note.

Oct 23, 2026

Is The Australian Storm Coming?

Inside surfing's finest talent factory.

Oct 22, 2026

The Morning I Pulled A Dead Man From The Zicatela Shorebreak

On location during the filming of 'Inflation Point'

Oct 21, 2026

SEOTY: Micky Clarke Sings Ke$ha In The Face Of (Un)Certain Death

The story behind his new Octo part CIRCUITBENDER (now playing).

Oct 20, 2026

Brazil Storms Supertubos As Erin’s Four-Peat Hits A Pickle

The Rip Curl Pro Portugal returns for a brief but eventful moment.

Oct 20, 2026

Watch: 20-ish Minutes Of 36 Good Surfers In Good Waves

The Quik Fest recap edit has landed.

Oct 19, 2026

Dave Rastovich & Dane Reynolds On The Meaninglessness Of Surfing | StabMic Ep. 35

"Surfing is completely useless. But, imagine your life without it."

Oct 19, 2026

ISA And WSL Settle Differences, Agree To Split Time With The Kids

How will CT surfers compete in two concurrent surf events half a world apart this…

Oct 18, 2026

World Number 1 Out, Green Wetsuits And Wildcards In

Live report from a stunning opening day at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.

Oct 16, 2026

Watch: ‘Grillionaire’ Starring Taj Richmond, In All Its Sticky Green Glory

The year is 2060, AI agents are patrolling the surf and stealing memories.

Oct 16, 2026

Watch: Unequivocal Proof That Cloudbreak Is The Best Wave In The World

Mikey February, James Kusitino, Tosh Tudor, Frankie Harrer, Kobe Hughes and Lungi Slabb star in…

Oct 15, 2026

A Reckoning in Surfing, and the Questions Nobody Can Yet Answer

We spoke to the AFP and French Polynesian authorities about the alleged sexual assault of…

Oct 15, 2026

Making The Fish Last: A Rip Curl Portugal Pro Preview

Seventeen years after Supertubos joined the Tour, Portugal is once again being asked to make…

Oct 15, 2026

Three Days In Texas With 40-Ish Surfers And A Pool Resembling An Obstacle Course

Watch: The 2026 Swatch Nines surf recap edit.

Oct 15, 2026
Advertisement