By Zoe Papadakis | Tuesday, 23 June 2026 12:56 PM EDT
Country music star Bailey Zimmerman faces a fourth-degree felony charge for criminal damage to property valued over $1,000 and a misdemeanor charge related to false service acquisition.
The legal action was initiated by the Sandia Resort and Casino following repeated attempts by management to contact the musician without success, according to a police affidavit citing an arrest warrant. The charges stem from destruction discovered by resort housekeepers on May 28. Staff found a wall hole, a broken television, a shattered telephone, heavily damaged chairs and coffee tables, with two hotel chairs entirely missing from Zimmerman’s vacated room.
Hotel management also alleges Zimmerman left an unpaid $400 tab for alcohol at the resort. The incident unfolded during a volatile sound check the previous afternoon. A police affidavit states Zimmerman “appeared to be exhibiting signs of intoxication” while interacting with staff on May 27. At approximately 4:30 p.m., he allegedly “stumbled onto the stage,” grabbed a guitar, smashed it against the floor, fell backward after tripping on stage equipment, shoved a guitarist, kicked a drum kit, and threw a microphone and two cymbals to the ground.
The disturbance spilled onto resort property. The affidavit further notes Zimmerman spat toward a Sandia security officer while walking to a waiting vehicle and refused to board it because the SUV was painted white instead of black. He later appeared “stumbling down the hallway” with blood dripping from his left knee. Sandia Police were dispatched after Zimmerman became “disorderly” over a management-imposed checkout deadline, though he eventually exited the grounds.
The disruptions forced immediate cancellation of that evening’s headlining concert. Zimmerman later attributed the cancellation to a sudden medical issue in an Instagram post: “I have not been feeling well and have tried to power through, but I’m not able to give you all the show you deserve. I hate letting y’all down and was really looking forward to these shows, but I gotta take care of myself so I can get back out there stronger.”
This marks Zimmerman’s second major alcohol-related controversy in recent years. In January 2025, he issued a video apology after delivering an intoxicated performance at the Crash My Playa festival: “I got up on stage, and I was too drunk to play. And I sang awful; I played awful. Nobody got the show they wanted or paid for. And I’m disappointed in myself.”
Zimmerman, whose second album Different Night Same Rodeo launched in August, is scheduled to return to the stage on Thursday, June 25, in Ashland, Nebraska.
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazines, and websites.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved
