Hugh Hefner’s son charged with battery for beating girlfriend

New York: Hugh Hefner’s son Marston, who has been accused of beating his girlfriend Claire Sinclair, is facing one count of battery on a spouse or cohabitant and one count of vandalism. If convicted, the 21-year-old Playboy scion could be sentenced to more than a year in jail, the New York Daily News reported. According to authorities, Marston was arrested for beating the 20-year-old model, leaving visible signs of minor injuries. He was released on 20,000-dollar bail. The 2011 Playmate of the Year, famous for her resemblance to ‘50s pin-up Betty Page, later posed for TMZ.com with a giant purple bruise on her arm. She claimed the heir had been violent before and needed help, not jail. “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,” she told TMZ. Hugh Hefner later told the website, “If they care about each other, they’ll patch it up.” Prosecutors said that Marston is due back in court March 21. “I have no information that she’s not cooperating,” Pasadena City Prosecutor Connie Orozco told the Daily News, referring to Sinclair. But Sinclair’s assistance is not required, and the case can move forward based on the physical evidence gathered by police, Orozco said. “We are able to proceed whenever we believe there’s a crime, even if the domestic violence victim is not cooperative,” she said. ANI