Scandal star Columbus Short avoids jail after knocking out a man at LA restaurant

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Scandal actor Columbus Short is avoiding jail time after pleading no contest to punching a man in March 2014
Short knocked the man and broke his nose at a Los Angeles restaurant
The former Scandal star was sentenced to three years' probation, two months of community labor, and must take 26 anger-management classes
Short will also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim with the amount being determined at an October 21 hearing
Short has a lengthy record, and has been accused by his ex-wife multiple times of domestic assault
In April 2014 she alleged that the actor held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her and himself

By Chris Spargo For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: 19:40 EST, 24 September 2015 | Updated: 10:53 EST, 25 September 2015

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Scandal actor Columbus Short is avoiding jail time after pleading no contest to punching a man at a Los Angeles restaurant last year.

The Los Angeles County district attorney's office said Short entered a plea on Thursday to a felony count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury after he knocked out the man and broke his nose.

Short was sentenced to three years' probation and two months of community labor, and he must take 26 anger-management classes.

The actor was let go from Scandal at the end of the show's third season after being charged in a separate domestic-violence case involving his estranged wife.

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Off the hook: Scandal actor Columbus Short is avoiding jail time after pleading no contest to punching a man in March 2014 (above in August 2015 after being arrested by a bounty hunter)

Victim: Short knocked the man and broke his nose at a Los Angeles restaurant (above)

Short's attorney, Michael Levin, didn't immediately return messages seeking comment. Levin has previously said Short was acting in self-defense.

Short also will be ordered to pay restitution to the man he punched. The amount will be determined at an October 21 hearing.

Short has had a number of legal troubles in recent years, starting with the domestic assault claims from his wife.

Tanee McCall, Short's second wife, accused the actor of threatening to kill her and himself in April 2014, alleging that he even held a knife to her throat.

TMZ reported at the time that Short pinned McCall to the couch and started listing men he believed she was having sexual relationships with, and that when McCall escaped he slashed her tires.

She filed for divorce soon after and documents later revealed her husband had been making $65,000 an episode before he was let go from Scandal.

This also came after an incident in February in which Short was accused of physically attacking his wife in front of their daughter, who was two years old at the time.

He later pleaded no contest to that charge and received 30 days of community labor, choosing that over 45 days in jail.

Punishment: The former Scandal star (above with Kerry Washington in 2013) was sentenced to three years' probation, two months of community labor, and must take 26 anger-management classes

Cast: Katie Lowes, Short and Washington in a scene from Scandal

At the time of the February incident his three-year probation had just ended from a 2010 fight in which he was accused of sucker punching a man on a Los Angeles basketball court, cutting up the man's mouth.

He pleaded no contest to that fight as well and the aggravated battery charged was dismissed.

In August 2015 he was also arrested by bounty hunters at his album release party.

His rep later issued a statement saying; 'It appears that this is a citizens arrest as a result of an issue between Mr Short and his bail bondsman. The reported bail amount of $500,000 is also inaccurate. No additional information is available at this time.'

In an interview with Access Hollywood last December Short admitted he had been struggling with drugs and cocaine in recent years and that his Scandal costars and creator Shonda Rhimes knew about his problems and had been trying to help him over the years.

'I was doing cocaine and drinking a lot, and trying to balance a 16-hour work schedule a day, and a family, and, I just lost myself back then,' said Short, who also has a child from his first marriage.

He also revealed he had moved to Atlanta and felt good about the direction his life was taking in recent months.

Short will next star in the film Lucky Girl alongside Seryah, who is featured in the hit Fox series Empire.