November 5, 2009 – The security officer arrested last month after allegedly assaulting a woman near House of Blues Chicago has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery.

Darrell Gibson was sentenced to a year of court supervision. He must undergo anger management counseling and perform five days of community service. The maximum penalty for a Class A Misdemeanor is one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

“Battery” generally refers to actual, intentional, and unlawful touching or striking of another person, where “assault” can also include an attempt or threat of violence.

Wearing a white sweater, Gibson appeared calm in Circuit Court on Thursday morning. He met with his lawyer, Kent Delgado, before appearing before Judge Marvin P. Luckman.

(Left) Security officer identified as Gibson, in frame from cell phone video of incident.

According to a Chicago police spokesperson, a verbal altercation between Gibson and a woman in her 20s “escalated to a physical altercation,” resulting in minor injuries to the woman’s face.

A cell phone video, taken by a friend of the victim, shows a man identified as Gibson striking a young woman in the face on the south side of West Kinzie Street.

It is believed Gibson was upset with the woman for taking a photo of him or a driveway that leads to the marina level of Marina City. Tour buses use the driveway to load and unload. The rock band Hanson performed at House of Blues earlier in the evening.

When he was arrested on October 12, Gibson, age 31, of Sauk Village south of Chicago, told police he was a security officer at House of Blues. His current employment status is unknown but the Chicago Tribune reported on October 14 that three HOB employees were suspended without pay following the incident.

 Related story: House of Blues employee arrested after assault near Marina City