María León is facing a fine of 5,700 euros for an incident involving Seville's local police in 2022
María León, the acclaimed Spanish actress, is currently embroiled in a legal battle following an incident with the local police in Seville back in October 2022. According to a report by Eva Saiz (2025) in El País, León has been sentenced to pay a fine of 5,700 euros. The ruling, delivered by the magistrate of Criminal Court number 12 in Seville, finds León responsible for resisting authority and causing minor injuries to a police officer.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of October 1, 2022, has been a subject of intense scrutiny. While León has been convicted of resistance and minor injury, she was acquitted of disobedience. However, the sentence is still subject to appeal, leaving the final outcome uncertain.
The Court's Findings
The magistrate stated that the actress «motivated by the desire to oppose police action and assuming to cause physical harm to the agent, struggled and threw a punch with her left arm at the agent's right cheek, lost her balance and fell to the ground, from where she also kicked her while addressing her saying: 'son of a bitch, whore'.» These are strong words from the magistrate and paints a very bad picture of the actress’ behavior.
Moreover, the court also found that León, «again from the ground,» attempted to evade the officers, trying to flee until she was apprehended against a fence. During this confrontation, she allegedly screamed at the officers not to touch her while the agent was attempting to handcuff her. Ediciones EL PAÍS S.L. highlights the complexity of the case and the conflicting accounts that emerged during the trial.
Conflicting Accounts and Key Evidence
The judge gives credit to the version of the facts offered by the three agents who brought the particular accusation, against that of León and the rest of the witnesses of her group, understanding that «their account is detailed, coherent and coincident among themselves in the essential aspects that affect the succession of the events». One point of contention revolved around the moment the police handcuffed León. The officers claimed she was standing, while León and her witnesses maintained she was on the ground. This discrepancy was crucial in determining the actress's conduct.
Further complicating matters, the magistrate noted inconsistencies in the testimonies of León's co-defendants and witnesses regarding their exact locations during the incident. Additionally, the court considered video evidence showing León standing, contradicting claims that she was on the ground. This video played a significant role in undermining the defense's version of events, which, according to El País, sought to justify the actress's actions.
The Claustrophobia Argument
León's defense team presented a report from two psychologists, arguing that she suffers from claustrophobia. The actress claimed that this condition caused her to exit the police vehicle, but she denied any intention of fleeing. However, the judge dismissed this argument, citing a video León herself recorded inside the vehicle. According to court documents, León appeared smiling and not visibly distressed in the video, despite being inside the vehicle for over half a minute.
The judge also referenced another recording made during León's transport to the police station, in which only accelerated breathing and the phrase «how strong» can be heard. Based on this evidence, the court deemed it impossible to definitively conclude that the initial period inside the vehicle was the sole cause of León's diagnosed stress, suggesting that the subsequent arrest could also have contributed to her anxiety.
The Verdict and Its Implications
Ultimately, León was ordered to pay a fine of 4,800 euros for the crime of resistance and an additional 900 euros for the minor injury charge. The court did, however, consider the mitigating circumstance of damage repair. Furthermore, León must compensate the injured officer with 100 euros, deducted from the 150 euros she deposited at the beginning of the trial. The other two defendants, who faced the same charges as León, were acquitted on all counts.
What Does This Mean Moving Forward?
This case highlights the complexities of legal proceedings involving public figures. The scrutiny of evidence, conflicting testimonies, and the interpretation of events all play a crucial role in determining the outcome. As the legal process continues, it remains to be seen whether María León will appeal the sentence and what the final resolution will be.
The case continues to generate conversation, raising questions about police conduct, celebrity accountability, and the complexities of justice. Only time will tell how this situation will resolve itself.
