Aug. 05--A New Orleans Saints fan has been found guilty of shoving Bears Chairman George McCaskey during an argument over seats at Soldier Field last December, according to prosecutors and court records.
Richard Kohnke, 58, of New Orleans, was found guilty of misdemeanor battery with insulting or provoking conduct in a bench trial before Judge Anthony Calabrese, according to to state's attorney spokeswoman Tandra Simonton and court records. Kohnke was sentenced to six months of court supervision.
On Dec. 15, McCaskey went to some of his seats in the stadium during a night game and found several Saints fans sitting in them, Bears officials said at the time. McCaskey talked briefly with one of the fans and then headed to the concourse to get stadium security, the team said.
As McCaskey walked away, Kohnke went after him and pushed McCaskey in the back, according to police and the team. A Bears fan then tackled Kohnke, who pushed McCaskey to the ground, according to the team.
Security arrived and Kohnke, an attorney, was ejected from the stadium and charged with simple battery, police said.
McCaskey did not require medical attention, the team said.
Kohnke, who originally was charged with misdemeanor battery with physical contact, a more serious charge, is scheduled to be back in court Feb. 3 at the end of his court supervision.
Chicago Tribune's Deanese Williams-Harris contributed.
