Lower Broadway 'Silver man' goes to jail for sexual battery

A Lower Broadway street performer known as the "Silver Man," who was a fixture in downtown Nashville, has been sentenced to more than a year in jail after pleading guilty to sexual battery.

John Casey was arrested Feb. 28, a day after a woman contacted police and said Casey inappropriately touched her while she was on a ladder in front of a downtown boot store, according to police. A Davidson County grand jury charged Casey with two counts of sexual battery in early May.

Casey, 44, was arrested on Lower Broadway, where he earned his "Silver Man" nickname for dressing up in silver clothing and covering himself in silver makeup to earn money.

He pleaded guilty May 28 to one charge of sexual battery and was sentenced to 13 months in prison, with credit for time he's already served, according to a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office. The other charge was dismissed. Casey will also have to register as a sex offender.

Reach Stacey Barchenger at 615-726-8968 and on Twitter @sbarchenger.