Background on Devin Ratray and the Allegations Against Him
Devin Ratray, best known for playing Buzz McCallister in the 1990 Christmas classic Home Alone, has been hospitalized just as he was set to stand trial on domestic assault charges stemming from an alleged 2021 incident involving his girlfriend at the time (Source 1, Source 2).
Ratray, 46, was arrested in Oklahoma in December 2021 after his girlfriend at the time accused him of assaulting her in a hotel room after a night of drinking. Per the police report, Ratray allegedly punched and choked his girlfriend when she refused to bring him Xanax. The report also alleged Ratray tried to stop his girlfriend from breathing multiple times (Source 3).
At the time, Ratray denied the allegations through his attorney, saying “Mr. Ratray denies ever laying a hand on her or doing anything in regards to anything like that” (Source 4).
Ratray Hospitalized as Trial Was Set to Begin
Ratray was slated to face domestic assault and battery charges in court this week. However, his trial has now been delayed after he was hospitalized for undisclosed reasons just as proceedings were set to get underway (Source 5).
Few details are known about why Ratray was hospitalized. His attorney told the judge overseeing the case that Ratray was “unable to attend the trial or further proceedings” due to his hospitalization. Additional information about his condition was not provided publicly (Source 1).
With Ratray currently unavailable to stand trial, the judge was forced to delay proceedings. A new trial date has not yet been set.
What Charges Does Ratray Face?
Ratray faces the following criminal charges stemming from the alleged 2021 hotel room incident (Source 6):
- Domestic assault and battery by strangulation
- Domestic assault and battery
If convicted on the charges, Ratray could face fines up to $5,000 and jail time ranging from one to five years.
Prosecutors are reportedly prepared to call Ratray’s former girlfriend as well as police officers who responded to the incident as witnesses against Ratray during the trial.
History of Legal Issues
This is not Ratray’s first brush with the law. He also has prior drug and DUI arrests:
| Date | Charge | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | DUI | Pleaded guilty |
| 2013 | Marijuana possession | Charges dropped |
| 2017 | DUI | Pleaded guilty, license suspended |
Ratray’s string of legal troubles stand in contrast to his childhood fame from starring in Home Alone and Home Alone 2 nearly 25 years ago. He reprised his Buzz McCallister role in 2021 for Disney+’s Home Sweet Home Alone.
What Happens Next?
With Ratray still hospitalized, it remains unclear when he may be healthy enough to stand trial on the domestic assault charges he faces.
His attorney will likely ask the court for delays and postponements until Ratray can be discharged from medical care and attend proceedings. However, prosecutors could push for Ratray to be tried in absentia if his recovery timeline is unknown or excessively long.
In the meantime, Ratray’s hospitalization brings his tumultuous personal life back into the public spotlight. For the actor who once portrayed pesky big brother Buzz terrorizing a young Macaulay Culkin, his real-world legal drama continues.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
