Joey Chestnut pleads guilty to misdemeanor battery charge, earns 6 months probation

Joey Chestnut, the competitive eater best known for winning the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 17 times, pleaded guilty to a battery misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to 180 days of probation in April, according to Hamilton County (Ind.) court records obtained by The Athletic.Chestnut, 43, pleaded guilty on April 20 to a misdemeanor battery charge resulting in bodily injury, per court records, and will serve probation until mid-October. Chestnut was granted permission to travel outside the state on April 8, allowing him to compete. Chestnut won the 2026 Ultimate Bologna Showdown in Knoxville, Tenn., for the third consecutive year by eating 16 pounds of bologna in 8 minutes, a new world record.Chestnut’s attorney, Mario Massillamany, did not respond to a request for comment.Advertisement