Former New England Patriots star Willie McGinest faces eight years in prison after being charged with two felonies for his role in a December assault.
McGinest was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault by force likely to cause grievous bodily injury, court records show.
The former defensive lineman turned himself in to police on December 19 in connection with the assault that occurred 10 days earlier at a restaurant in West Hollywood. The video appears to show McGinest punching a man in the face and then attacking him with a bottle.
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New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest stands on the sideline during a game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York on December 11, 2005. (Mark Konezny / NFLPhotoLibrary)
The fight, involving mcginest and several other unidentified men, was later separated and McGinest could be seen discarding the bottle and walking away.
McGinest spent most of his 15-year career in New England, earning two Pro Bowl nominations and three Super Bowl championships. McGinest was suspended from his role as an analyst at the NFL Network pending an investigation and has not returned to the network.
The 51-year-old apologized for the incident shortly after in a lengthy Instagram post.
Willie McGinest of the New England Patriots during the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on February 6, 2005. (Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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«First of all, I want to offer my deepest apologies for my misjudgment and behavior on December 9 at a restaurant in West Hollywood.» McGinest wrote on Instagram later that month. «To my family, community, friends, and the youth I mentored, please know that I feel horrible for my actions and take full responsibility.
«To my colleagues at the NFL Network and those I work closely with as a consultant to professional and community organizations, please know that I am ashamed and sorry for what happened.
«Most of all, I am disappointed in myself as I know this is an isolated incident and does not reflect my faith, my role as a parent, my life’s body of work, or the role model I have worked hard to become. It is personally devastating that decades of community service, youth involvement, mentoring, and professional development become an afterthought at a single moment that never should have happened.
«This incident has led me to a deep self-reflection – mind, soul and spirit. I know that violence is never the answer to such situations, no matter how intense the provocation. Rest assured that I will take the necessary steps to restore trust public, repair damaged relationships and ensure this never happens again.
willie mcginest (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images/File)
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His bail was set at $30,000 and he was released a day later.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.