From OC charger to OC inmate.
Infamous San Clemente Surfer, Chris Ward, was arrested earlier this month for probation violation, and is on the hook for 6 months in an Orange County maximum security jail, according to reports.
The probation violation can be traced back to December of last year when Wardo’s wife Michele uploaded a photo of herself – swollen and bruised – to her husband’s instagram with the caption: “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.”
Wardo’s wife Michele uploaded this image to her husbands Instagram account. It was removed an hour later. Photo: Instagram
The image was quickly removed. A Facebook post from Wardo followed: “Im really sorry for the post I did last night I may have said something that caused a big blowout. I wasn’t intentionally trying to bash anyone I was just letting out my emotions I haven’t got anyone to really talk to that will listen. Yep you can say it was foolish to post my first thoughts and I let my emotions get the better of me but Im as real as it gets I may have over reacted and sorry to my my friends and Michele Marie Ward for making such accusations Maybe i got the wrong empression but this guy should have never been that close to your face. But if i had not gone there i would have saw nothing. Ill stay home next time its healthy. Then we can trade off. ONLY GOOD VIBES TO EVERYONE THANKS FOR BEING CONCERNED everyone goes thought stuff like this in life thats just LIFE gotta grow up and handle STAY Strong especially the ones you love the most PEACE!!!!!”
And then a Facebook post from Michele: “Truth always overcomes. Always comes out. So go on Chris Ward with you lies and pubic (sic) bashing of me. Truth will prevail. I feel very sad you would go public with lies about your wife and mother of your child. Maturity in its purest form. I will not stoop to that level. God will defeat the enemies facing me.”
The two apparently reconciled. A few weeks ago, Michele posted the following photo on Instagram with the accompanied message: “Just came across this photo from Surfer Poll 2013 . It made me smile. Made me think. No love is perfect. Nothing is unflawed or doesn’t take work. Some question your love, they judge. I’m so grateful for the love in my heart I have for this man. I will always stand up, stand by, call you out, when needed, and be proud of the wonderful man and father I have been watching you become. Life is all about, growing, making mistakes and learning from them. Knowing that family is what’s most important and that smiling everyday …it’s everything. Very proud to call you my husband..Thank you for all the amazing adventures, the ups and downs, the real time that is shaping us. God has control, I love you.”
Just a few days ago, Michele posted to her personal Instagram an image harkening to a happier time. Photo: Instagram
But independent of the couple’s very public struggles and equally public amends, Ward was also faced with the legal ramifications of his actions. In early April, he pled guilty to domestic abuse, more specifically, he “willfully and unlawfully inflicted corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition,” of his spouse.
Ward was subsequently sentenced to three years probation, and a 60-day stay in county jail, eight hours of community service, and 52 weeks of a “Batterer’s Intervention Program” – from which he has already allegedly been dropped due to excessive failures to show up.
According to reports, Ward had a probation violation filed against him on June 10, and by the 17th – under the guidance of his legal representation – surrendered himself to the authorities. He is now locked up at the Theo Lacy Facility, a maximum security prison in Orange County.
Unfortunately, this isn’t Wardo’s first hang up with law enforcement. In January 2008, he was arrested outside of the Whiskey Creek Bar in Mammoth Lakes, California after allegedly punching three women.
