Sentencing Announced In Mizzou Arena Joyride Incident

Mizzou Arena – Mizzou Arena

The driver responsible for last year’s infamous joyride at Columbia, Mo.’s Mizzou Arena involving a Volkswagen Passat and more than $100,000 in damages pleaded guilty May 4 to two counts of first degree property damage. 

Nathaniel Conant was sentenced to five years of supervised probation and 100 hours of community service, according to the Missourian. The paper notes that Conant was a temporary employee at the venue – an events assistant for the SEC Network in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics who was hired in March 2017. His job was terminated the day after the off-roading incident at the arena. He is no longer allowed on venue property.  

The then-23-year-old drove his Passat through a gate and a garage door to get into Mizzou Arena June 25, 2017, tearing the lower four to five feet of the door in the process. Conant’s car hit two golf carts and then struck a basketball hoop on the venue’s main basketball court. His 43-minute joyride concluded by smashing the press gate on his way out of the arena, according to the Missourian. 

Damages are estimated at $107,500, according to a 2017 probable cause statement with $50,000 for the rolling south gate; $25,000 for the dock garage door; $2,500 for the press gate; and $30,000 for the golf carts.