The man accused of ramming his vehicle through the gate of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s East Hampton home has pleaded not guilty. According to ABC News, 63-year-old Keith Jonathan Webster entered the plea after authorities charged him with felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor criminal trespass.
Webster is expected to return to court on July 29. East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky also issued a temporary restraining order during Webster’s arraignment. The order prohibits Webster from contacting Beyoncé or Jay-Z and from going near their property while the criminal case remains active.
By pleading not guilty, Webster formally denied the criminal allegations against him. His plea does not determine whether the collision occurred, but it requires prosecutors to prove the elements of the charges against him. Webster has not been convicted, and the allegations described in the criminal complaint have not been decided at trial.
The felony charge could place significant attention on whether prosecutors can establish intent. According to New York Penal Law Section 145.10, second degree criminal mischief applies when a person intentionally damages someone else’s property, has no legal right to do so and causes more than $1,500 in damage. The offense is classified as a Class D felony.
The criminal complaint accuses Webster of causing at least $1,500 in damage to the gate. That reported amount places the alleged damage above the threshold included in New York’s second degree criminal mischief statute.
The events behind the case reportedly unfolded at approximately 12:50 p.m. on July 15. According to the criminal complaint, a member of the couple’s private security team was monitoring surveillance cameras when he noticed “a green colored vehicle approaching the gate traveling at a high rate of speed.”
The vehicle was identified as a Subaru. The security guard said the vehicle struck the reinforced closed gate before continuing onto the property.
“I watched the car strike the gate and continued to drive on the property,” the security guard said. “I called for my partner … and I ran out the security office door, up the driveway and down to where the car had come to a stop.”
The security guard and his partner approached the vehicle and held the car door closed so the driver could not immediately get out. The guard said Webster later “exited the vehicle without any issue and we placed him on the ground.”
Members of the private security detail detained Webster until officers from the East Hampton Village Police Department arrived. No injuries to Beyoncé, Jay-Z or members of their security team were reported in the criminal complaint described by the outlet.
The backstory surrounding Webster’s trip to East Hampton has raised questions about why he arrived at the property. Police used license plate reader cameras to examine Webster’s reported movements through East Hampton and Montauk before the collision.
Webster reportedly traveled toward Montauk, returned through East Hampton Village, stopped near Main Beach and later entered the Georgica neighborhood where Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s home is located. Police have not publicly explained what motivated the trip.
Before reaching the couple’s estate, Webster reportedly stopped at another home in the area. He asked the homeowner about a woman who did not live there. The homeowner refused to let him enter, and Webster reportedly left without another incident before the homeowner contacted authorities.
That earlier encounter has become an important part of the investigation because authorities have not publicly established that Webster deliberately targeted Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Per Police did not find a weapon or a written note, and Webster reportedly did not make threats or directly mention the residents of the property.
Local authorities also said Webster appeared confused following the collision. Webster had no prior criminal history, and a relative reportedly told investigators that the family did not know why he would have traveled to East Hampton.
Webster complained of pain after the crash and was transported for medical treatment. Police later impounded the Subaru as part of the investigation. Authorities reportedly considered whether a possible health issue contributed to his behavior, but no medical condition has been publicly confirmed.
The fact that Webster pleaded not guilty means the prosecution will have to establish that his actions met the legal requirements for the charged offenses. The reported absence of threats, weapons or a message directed toward Beyoncé and Jay-Z does not automatically resolve the property damage charges, but it could influence how authorities describe his alleged intent.
It remains unclear whether Beyoncé or Jay-Z were inside the home when the vehicle reached the property. The outlet contacted a representative for both artists for comment. No public response from the couple was included in its report.
Webster’s upcoming court appearance could provide additional information about the evidence against him, the damage to the security gate and the conditions imposed following his arraignment. For now, he has pleaded not guilty, and the question of whether he knowingly selected Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s home remains unanswered.
