Mel Gibson To Be Charged With Misdemeanor Battery

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Mel Gibson and former girlfriend Oksana Grigorievain January 2010

REUTERS/Phil McCarten

The volatile actor struck a deal Friday, in which he will plead no contest to misdemeanor battery charges and likely receive no jail time.

Gibson is expected to appear in court later today to respond to charges stemming from a January 2010 fight between him and then-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, according to the L.A. Times.

Prosecutors had the option of filing on grounds of a more severe charge — felony domestic violence — but the misdemeanor is a basis of the plea bargain, which would place Gibson on probation and require him to continue counseling.

(More on TIME.com: Mel Gibson Crashes Car into California Hillside)

Earlier this week, Gibson’s lawyer, Blair Berk, released a statement saying that the actor hoped to end the case without fighting because of the potential impact on his children, including an infant daughter he has with Grigorieva.

“Mel’s priority throughout all of this has been that the best interests of his young daughter Lucia and the rest of his children be put first in any decisions made,” Berk’s statement reads. “It is with only that in mind that he asked me to approach the district attorney with a proposal that would bring all of this to an immediate end.”

It’s not surprising that Gibson would like a peaceful end to this tumultuous situation, which has been incredibly damaging to his reputation. You might remember (how could you not?) the vicious recordings that were leaked to RadarOnline.com last year during the actor’s custody battle with Grigorieva, including tirades in which he allegedly used racist and sexist taunts.

(More on TIME.com: See the top 10 celebrity meltdowns.)