Former Home And Away Star Orpheus Pledger To Appeal Jail Sentence

Orpheus Pledger, a former star of Home and Away, plans to appeal his jail sentence for assaulting a lady.

According to ABC News, the Mason Morgan actor entered a guilty plea in March to beating a lady with such violence that she was hospitalized and suffered “bruises on her head and hand, lacerations on her face, and signs of strangulation.”

Pledger appeared in court today, August 16, after his sentencing was postponed last month and he was given bail. He was given a seven-month prison sentence along with a one-year community corrections order.

Pledger has been granted bail while the appeal is pending in the County Court, with a hearing scheduled for November 12.

Despite having some doubts, Magistrate Justin Foster stated that Pledger was in a better place than when he was first granted bail in April (via News.com.au).

Attorney Justin MacCuspie contended that Pledger’s sentence will be mostly served by the time of the appeal and that there had been no problems during the previous six weeks while he was free on bond.

A prior report to the court stated that a woman had called emergency services due to concerns about Pledger’s mental state. She informed the operator that “he’s coming” before the call ended.

Before the woman was taken to the hospital, police discovered her injuries when they subsequently arrived at the Melbourne house. Pledger was taken into prison after leaving the hospital and was later freed on bond after being detained and having his mental health evaluated.

Defense attorney MacCuspie claimed that Pledger’s usage of the drug methylamphetamine had contributed to the attack and that Pledger’s mental state had first deteriorated as a result of losing out on a part in the TV show The 100. In 2021, he was detained once before for drug possession.

Pledger’s mental state had stabilized, according to MacCuspie’s July testimony to the court, and staff at a correctional facility determined he didn’t require involuntary treatment.

Foster granted Pledger’s request to temporarily reside with his father.