‘Home Alone’ Star Devin Ratray Cleared After Prosecution Case Is Suddenly Dismissed
Devin Ratray is best known for his iconic role as Buzz McCallister in the beloved holiday classic ‘Home Alone’. The actor has faced intense legal scrutiny over the last few years regarding serious allegations from his past. Recent reports confirm that he has been cleared of charges related to a high-profile investigation in New York City. The case involved accusations of sexual assault dating back several years. Authorities have officially closed the matter without pursuing prosecution against the actor.
The allegations were originally brought forward by a woman named Lisa Smith regarding an incident in 2017. Smith claimed that she was assaulted by Ratray at his apartment in Manhattan after a night out with friends. She filed a police report shortly after the alleged encounter took place. The initial investigation was closed prematurely when detectives reportedly misunderstood her willingness to cooperate. Smith later stated she was devastated to learn the authorities had stopped working on her file.
This legal saga was reignited in 2022 following Ratray’s arrest for a separate incident in Oklahoma. Smith contacted the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to inquire why her previous case had gone cold. Prosecutors agreed to review the evidence and the handling of the original complaint by the NYPD. This renewed attention placed the actor under a significant cloud of suspicion for months. Ratray consistently maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal and denied that any non-consensual activity occurred.
The actor’s legal team has always asserted that the encounter was not criminal in nature. Ratray specifically denied the rape allegations during interviews and stated that he and Smith did not have sex. The dismissal of this case means the District Attorney found insufficient evidence to move forward with a trial. This development serves as a major victory for Ratray as he seeks to rebuild his reputation. It effectively ends the threat of criminal charges related to the 2017 claims.
While this specific case has been resolved in his favor, Ratray has navigated other legal troubles recently. He previously accepted a plea deal regarding domestic violence charges stemming from an altercation in Oklahoma City. That separate matter involved a dispute with a former girlfriend while he was attending a fan convention. The actor received a sentence of probation for that specific incident. The clearing of the New York case distinguishes it from his other legal entanglements.
Fans of ‘Home Alone’ have watched these headlines closely given the actor’s connection to their childhood nostalgia. Ratray had been enjoying a career resurgence with appearances in projects like ‘Better Call Saul’ and ‘Kimi’ before these allegations surfaced. The conclusion of the New York investigation removes the most serious criminal liability he was facing. He can now move forward without the looming possibility of a prison sentence for the alleged assault. The dismissal officially closes a complicated chapter involving law enforcement errors and delayed justice.
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