At a Glance
- Former MLB star Lenny Dykstra faces drug charges after a trooper found drugs and paraphernalia in his vehicle during a New Year’s Day stop.
- The vehicle was not his, and he was not accused of driving under the influence.
- Dykstra has a history of multiple legal issues, from bankruptcy fraud to exposing himself on Craigslist.
Why it matters: The new charges add to a long list of legal troubles that could further tarnish the former star’s legacy.
Lenny Dykstra, 62, was a passenger when the vehicle was pulled over by a trooper with the Blooming Grove patrol unit in Pike County, about 25 miles (40 km) east of Scranton, where he lives.
Traffic Stop and Current Charges
Police said a trooper found drugs and paraphernalia in the vehicle. Charges will be filed, but the exact nature and the drugs involved have not been disclosed. Dykstra’s lawyer, Matthew Blit, stated that the vehicle did not belong to him and that he was not accused of being under the influence at the scene.
- Vehicle was not Dykstra’s
- No DUI allegation
- Charges pending, details undisclosed
Past Legal Troubles
Dykstra’s legal record is extensive. He served time in a California prison for bankruptcy fraud, sentenced to more than six months for hiding baseball gloves and other items from his playing days. That sentence ran concurrent with a three-year sentence for pleading no contest to grand theft auto and providing a false financial statement. He claimed he owed more than $31 million and had only $50,000 in assets.
In April 2012, he pleaded no contest to exposing himself to women he met through Craigslist. In 2019, he pleaded guilty on behalf of his company, Titan Equity Group, to illegally renting out rooms in a New Jersey house that it owned, agreeing to pay about $3,000 in fines. That same year a judge dropped drug and terroristic threat charges after an altercation with an Uber driver; police found cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana among his belongings. Dykstra’s lawyer called the incident “overblown” and said he was innocent. In 2020, a New York Supreme Court judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit he filed against former Mets teammate Ron Darling over allegations of racist remarks during the 1986 World Series. Justice Robert D. Kalish noted that Dykstra’s reputation had already been so tarnished that it could not be damaged further.
| Year | Legal Issue | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s (unknown) | Bankruptcy fraud & grand theft auto | Sentenced to >6 months (bankruptcy) and 3 years (auto) |
| 2012 | Exposing himself to women via Craigslist | Pleaded no contest |
| 2019 | Illegal renting of rooms (Titan Equity Group) | Pleaded guilty, fined $3,000 |
| 2019 | Drug and terroristic threat charges dropped after altercation with Uber driver | Police found cocaine, MDMA, marijuana; charges dropped |
| 2020 | Defamation lawsuit against Ron Darling | Dismissed by NY Supreme Court judge |
Key Takeaways
- New drug charges add to a long list of legal troubles for former MLB star Lenny Dykstra.
- His past convictions include bankruptcy fraud, grand theft auto, and a 2012 no-contest plea for exposing himself.
- A 2020 defamation lawsuit was dismissed, underscoring the legal challenges that continue to shadow his career.
The latest development underscores how a former baseball icon’s legal battles persist, potentially reshaping public perception of his legacy.
