Joey Chestnut legal troubles: Why Nathan's Hot Dog Eating champion is competing while on probation

Joey Chestnut legal troubles: Why Nathan's Hot Dog Eating champion is competing while on probation originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It's hard to find anyone as dominant at their craft as Joey Chestnut is at eating hot dogs, but off-the-stage headlines have followed him in recent years.

The 17-time hot dog eating champion missed the 2024 contest due to a sponsorship dispute with Major League Eating, breaking up a streak of eight consecutive titles.

More recently, an arrest landed Chestnut in hot water and forced him to defend his hot dog eating title while on probation.

Here's what you need to know about Chestnut's legal troubles.

MORE:Inside Joey Chestnut's net worth

Joey Chestnut legal troubles

Chestnut was arrested and charged with battery in March after slapping a man at a bar in Indiana. He entered a guilty plea for misdemeanor battery in April and was only sentenced to probation.

When police visited Chestnut's home days after the incident, the 17-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest champion said he didn't remember the slap.

"I really was pretty drunk," Chestnut said, reiterating after police showed him video of the incident that he had no recollection of it.

"That does not look nice," Chestnut told police after seeing the video. "I feel really bad about that."

Chestnut's lawyer later backtracked those comments, saying his client was nervous talking to the police.

The case was resolved within about a month when Chestnut pleaded guilty, earning him only a sentence of probation. As part of his plea, Chestnut is allowed to travel out of state and is participating in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York.

MORE: What happens inside an eater's body after the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest?

What did Joey Chestnut do?

Chestnut pleaded guilty to slapping a man at an Indiana bar in March. While Chestnut told police he doesn't remember the incident, police said the video showed the competitive eater slapping a man immediately after giving him what appeared to be a friendly handshake. 

Chestnut's guilty plea for misdemeanor battery earned him only a sentence of probation. Here are the details.

When does Joey Chestnut get off probation?

Chestnut's probation lasts 180 days. Assuming it began when he entered his guilty plea on April 20, Chestnut's probation is set to last through about mid-October.

Fortunately for Chestnut, his probation doesn't prevent out-of-state travel, which cleared the way for his participation in the Fourth of July contest.

Joey Chestnut age

Chestnut is 42 years old; he is set to turn 43 in November.

Despite being on the wrong side of 40, Chestnut's 70.5 hot dogs eaten at last year's Nathan's contest marked his highest total since 2021.