The ruling by Judge Albert T. Harutunian III cancels a jury trial scheduled to begin next week and comes more than two years after Love allegedly assaulted Sheraton hotel receptionist Elizabeth Renderos during a dispute over a room reservation. According to a civil lawsuit filed by Renderos in February 2025, Love became enraged after learning that the hotel could not accommodate a reservation made through a third-party booking service because the property was fully occupied.
Renderos alleges that Love forcibly ripped a credit card reader from the front desk and hurled it at her, striking her in the head and breaking her prescription glasses. Her lawsuit claims she suffered a concussion, a visible injury behind her ear, ongoing physical and emotional distress, and medical expenses. San Diego police responded to the August 9, 2024 incident, and Love was subsequently charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon. He pleaded not guilty.
The allegations are not Love's first encounter with the criminal justice system over accusations of violent behavior. In March 2017, he was arrested after a confrontation with a 24-year-old airport valet at John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio. Surveillance footage captured Love grabbing the employee, throwing him into a desk and onto the floor, and pushing him down again as he attempted to get up.
Love subsequently pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and was found guilty, receiving a 180-day suspended jail sentence and a $500 fine. His attorney said the confrontation involved a disagreement over payment. Unlike the pending San Diego allegations, the Ohio incident resulted in a criminal conviction.
During Wednesday's San Diego hearing, prosecutors argued that Love's history of confrontational behavior extended back to at least 2002, well before the mental health issues cited by his defense. They described him as having a short temper and a tendency toward hostility, questioned whether his existing treatment was adequate and sought a separate psychiatric evaluation by a court-appointed expert.
The judge denied the request for an additional evaluation, relying instead on evidence submitted by Love's defense, including assessments from his treatment providers. Public defender Marc Kligman argued that Love voluntarily began receiving mental health care in 2025, had been seeing one provider for approximately 18 months and had remained out of custody without additional problems relevant to the diversion request. Love's specific diagnosis was not publicly disclosed.
Harutunian concluded that Love met California's statutory requirements for diversion and that prosecutors had not overcome the legal presumption connecting his qualifying mental health disorder to the alleged offense. However, the judge openly criticized the Legislature's expansion of diversion eligibility, expressing concern that the law places insufficient weight on public safety.
Under the ruling, Love must attend mental health counseling at least twice monthly, complete a 12-hour anger management course and consult a psychiatrist about whether medication is appropriate. He is also prohibited from visiting the Mission Valley Sheraton or contacting its employees and must return to court in January for a progress hearing, which he may attend remotely.
California Penal Code Section 1001.36 allows qualifying defendants to have criminal proceedings suspended while undergoing court-supervised mental health treatment. Successful completion generally results in dismissal of the charges, while failure to comply can lead to prosecution resuming. Love has not been acquitted, and the felony charge has not been dismissed.
Love's legal troubles have also extended beyond allegations of physical violence. In June 2026, he was arrested in California and transported to Florida on two contempt-of-court counts stemming from a longstanding child support dispute. Court proceedings involved allegations that he owed more than $250,000 in unpaid support, although Love and his attorney disputed his ability to pay.
During the Florida proceedings, his attorney reportedly told the court that the actor had experienced homelessness and was relying on approximately $10,000 annually in residual payments from Elf. The financial dispute is separate from the San Diego criminal case and does not establish wrongdoing in the hotel incident.
Born Langston Faizon Santisima in Santiago de Cuba in 1968, Love grew up in San Diego and Newark, New Jersey, as the son of a U.S. Navy serviceman. He attended Morse High School in southeastern San Diego and began performing stand-up comedy as a teenager before moving into television and film.
His breakthrough came playing drug dealer Big Worm opposite Ice Cube and Chris Tucker in the 1995 comedy Friday. He subsequently appeared in The Parent 'Hood, The Replacements, Blue Crush, Elf and Couples Retreat, and voiced Sean "Sweet" Johnson in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
The latest ruling also leaves a separate legal question unresolved for the hotel employee who accused Love of attacking her. Renderos filed a civil lawsuit alleging assault, battery, negligence and emotional distress, seeking damages for her injuries. The disposition of that lawsuit has not been independently established, and the criminal diversion order does not itself resolve her civil claims.
For now, Love will avoid a jury trial while the court monitors his treatment over the next two years. Whether the felony charge is ultimately dismissed will depend on his compliance with the diversion program and the court's assessment of his progress.
Originally published on October 22, 2026.