Former 'Scandal' Star Columbus Short Leaves Man With Broken Nose but Avoids Jail Time

It looks like the "get out of jail free" card isn't just a make-believe strategy move from Monopoly. On Thursday (Sept. 24), former Scandal star, Columbus Short, managed to avoid jail time by pleading no contest to assaulting a man at a West Los Angeles restaurant in March 2014. The incident left a man with a broken and bloody nose.

According to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, the 33-year-old actor struck a plea deal to a felony count of assault likely to cause bodily injury. This plea softened the blow that was headed Short's way and traded it for a punishment that would still allow him to walk the streets freely.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Leslie Brown served Short, who once choreographed for pop sensation Britney Spears, with a three year sentence of probation along with 60 days of community labor. He is also required to attend and complete 26 anger management classes.

The You Got Served actor reportedly got into a brutal bar brawl last year on March 15 after a word exchange between the two men got ugly. Short is said to have punched the man in the face, leaving him bloodied, in an unconscious state, with a broken nose. He was arrested and charged with felony aggravated battery, but was later released on a $50,000 bail.

TMZ alleges the Missouri native sent the following texts to the victim the same night of the incident: "I know im texting and incriminating myself but I have to own what I did wrong in that situation. Im so sorry and completely disappointed in myself. Whether I go to jail or not that will be the worst punishment of all. Losing you guys."

Short was initially facing up to four years in prison.