Marston Hefner Admits Assaulting Playmate Girlfriend

Hugh Hefner's son, Marston Hefner has been ordered to attend a 52 week domestic violence course after pleading guilty to assaulting his girlfriend last month (February 2012). The 21 year-old son of the magazine magnate admitted to attacking his girlfriend, Claire Sinclair during an argument.

Marston Hefner was charged with "one count of battery on a spouse or cohabitant and one count of vandalising a laptop computer" according to Tuesday's report from New York Daily News (March 20, 2012). Marston has been placed on a three year probation, following the incident. He has also been ordered to stay away from Sinclair - a former Playboy Playmate - during that time. He will have to attend a domestic violence program for 52 weeks as well as checking in for periodic progress reports, according to the Pasadena City Prosecutor's office. At the end of the three years, Hefner can reportedly withdraw his plea, but the Assistant Pasadena City Prosecutor Chris Blankenhorn told New York Daily News "it's contingent on him obeying all laws and court conditions."

At the time of the incident, Sinclair told the gossip website TMZ, "I will not press charges against Marston Hefner if he keeps his word to give a public apology for physically abusing me on several occasions and seeks psychiatric help for his anger issues." Hugh Hefner's comment on the matter at the time was to say "If they care about each other, they'll patch it up."