Talk about hazards. Former “Dukes of Hazzard” star Tom Wopat was arrested Wednesday on a warrant involving a charge of “indecent assault and battery on a person over 14.”
The alleged victim was an actress with Wopat in a community theater production of “42nd Street” in Massachusetts.
Wopat, 65, was arrested in his car, said a statement from the Waltham, Mass., Police Department.
USA Today said police noted “two bags of white powder believed to be cocaine” were found in the car so a drugs possession charge was added.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the actor.
He was arraigned on the charges hours before he was scheduled to open in a production of ’42nd Street’ in Waltham on Thursday night, the paper said.
The Boston Globe added that New York resident Wopat pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Waltham District Court on charges of indecent assault and battery and cocaine possession.
“Meghan Kelly, a spokeswoman for Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan’s office, said before the arraignment that Wopat is accused of inappropriate touching of a female cast member,” the Globe said. “Wopat posted $1,000 bail and was ordered to stay away from the accuser, witnesses, and Waltham High School, where the Reagle Music Theater’s production was slated to open Thursday.”
The show is going on, however, with Reagle announcing that “42nd Street” would debut Thursday with Rich Allegretto in the role of Julian Marsh.
Reagle doesn’t mention Wopat after earlier touting his appearance.