'Dukes Of Hazzard' Star Arrested In Waltham For Allegedly Grabbing Woman's Rear

WALTHAM, MA — Waltham Police arrested the actor who played good ol' boy Luke Duke in the 1980s show "The Dukes of Hazzard" Wednesday night and charged him with indecent assault and battery and drug possession.

Waltham police said they arrested Thomas Wopat at 10:53 p.m. as he was leaving Waltham High School Wednesday, Aug. 2 on a warrant "relating to an incident that occurred in Waltham." According to court documents Wopat was in town and rehearsing for a musical at the high school when a fellow cast member in the production alleged he grabbed her rear.

"The defendant is charged in connection with inappropriately touching a female cast member on July 23, 2017. During a rehearsal the defendant allegedly walked behind a female cast member, grabbing her buttocks," said the District Attorney's office in a press release.

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According to court documents "Wopat denied improperly touching anyone," but told investigators that he liked to flirt.

"He relayed that one time he was seated and one of the girls walked by him and he lightly touched her hip and said 'I like the way you work'," according to the court document.

Wopat, 65, of New York was arraigned today in Waltham District Court on charges of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and possession of a Class B substance in connection with an allegation of inappropriately touching a cast member during rehearsal of “42nd Street” being put on by the Reagle Players in Waltham. Police said they found two small baggies of cocaine in his pocket when they arrested him and that charge was included at the arraignment.

Judge Sarah Ellis set bail at $1,000 cash and ordered Wopat to stay away from the woman who accused him of grabbing her rear, stay away from any witnesses named in the police report and to stay away from Waltham High School.

The Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston, based in Waltham, opened the production of "42nd Street" this afternoon, but Rich Allegretto took Wopat's role of Julian Marsh. No word on what this means for the rest of the production.

If convicted, an indecent assault and battery is a felony. The drug possession is a misdemeanor.

Wopat is scheduled to return to court September 26 for a pre-trial conference.

I guess the law did end up catching em?

Photo: In this June 15, 2008 file photo, actor Tom Wopat arrives at the 62nd Annual Tony Awards in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer, file)

Photo: Of Waltham District Court By Jenna Fisher/ Patch Staff