Saints Heiress Rita Benson LeBlanc Arrested in Charleston Parking Dispute

Rita Benson LeBlanc, granddaughter of the late New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, found herself in hot water this week after a scuffle with a parking enforcement officer in Charleston, South Carolina. The 48-year-old was arrested Monday evening around 6:30 p.m., charged with interfering with an officer, and released on a personal recognizance bond by Tuesday morning.

The incident unfolded in downtown Charleston when LeBlanc allegedly shoved the officer and snatched a parking boot locking tool during a vehicle immobilization attempt. While it’s unclear if the car in question was hers, the altercation didn’t escalate to an assault charge, leaving some questions unanswered. LeBlanc, once poised to inherit the Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, was ousted from her executive role in 2014 after a public fallout with her grandfather. Following Tom Benson’s death in 2018, his wife, Gayle Benson, took the reins as principal owner.

LeBlanc is set to appear in court next month, and this parking lot drama adds another chapter to her tumultuous journey. It’s a reminder that even minor disputes can spiral, especially when tempers flare over something as mundane as a parking boot.