Lawyer: Anthrax Drummer Charlie Benante Assaulted by Wife

As reported over the weekend, Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and his wife were arrested on Friday (July 27) in Elkhart, Ind., due to an altercation in front of their daughter.

At the time it went public, local station WSBT reported that the two had been arrested and picked up at the Hilton Garden Inn in Elkhart. They also allegedly spent the night in the Elkhart County Jail.

After being detained by police for questioning both Benante and his wife were released and reports from the drummer's booking stated that he was to return to court this coming Friday (Aug. 3).

Now the drummer's attorney, William L. Hotopp, has issued a statement claiming that Benante and his six-year-old daughter were in town to see Mrs. Benante and her 17-year-old son, who was playing in a local baseball game. In his statement, the lawyer further details the incident and claims that the drummer's wife assaulted the musician. Read the entire statement from Benante's attorney here:

Last Friday night, Charlie Benante, drummer for the rock band Anthrax, was assaulted several times during an altercation that sent him to the emergency room with a gash at the back of his head that required several staples to close.

Mr. Benante and his six-year old daughter Mia had traveled to Elkart, IN to meet Mrs. Benante and her 17-year old son who was participating in a weekend baseball series. At some point, words were exchanged between Mr. Benante, Mrs. Benante and her male companion that led to a scuffle. Mrs. Benante hit Mr. Benante in the face, he pushed her away, and as he turned around to leave with Mia, Mrs. Benante assaulted him from behind, hitting him multiple times on the back of his head with a cell phone. Police were called, and both Mr. Benante and Mrs. Benante were detained for domestic battery in front of a child.

Mr. Benante is understandably distraught by this incident and that his daughter, who he dotes on, witnessed it.

Mr. Benante will appear in Elkhart County court this Friday, August 3, and we expect complete vindication.

Anthrax have been out on tour this summer as part of the Mayhem Festival. However, the drummer was forced to miss a good part of the tour due to a hand injury, with Shadows Fall drummer Jason Bittner taking over behind the kit.