Kia Dancing Hamster Actor Pleads to Disability Fraud
Looks like one of the Kia hamsters is going to have to dance with an electronic monitoring bracelet around his ankle for the next three months.
Leroy Barnes, an actor who portrayed a dancing hamster in the famous Kia commercials, pleaded no contest to disability fraud on Thursday, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Barnes, 29, also pleaded to making false statements regarding aid.
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According to the DA’s office, Barnes collected state disability benefits from September 2010 to September 2011, claiming that he wasn’t employed while he was working on the Kia commercials.
The actor was sentenced to 90 days of electronic monitoring. He was also ordered to pay more than $24,000 in restitution and perform 400 hours of community service.
However, his punishment is probably preferable to being locked in a giant hamster cage, with only pellets and water for sustenance.
Watch Barnes shake it during happier times in the video.
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