Charles Oakley and prosecutors had agreed to a deal last August that the charges would be erased if Oakley stayed out of trouble for six months
Former New York Knicks star Charles Oakley has officially been cleared of misdemeanor assault charges stemming from a scuffle with Madison Square Garden security guards last year.
The New York Post reports that a Manhattan judge dismissed the charges Friday.
Oakley and prosecutors had agreed to a deal last August that the charges would be erased if Oakley stayed out of trouble for six months.
Oakley’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, says the former hoop star has been ‘completely vindicated.’
Oakley played for the Knicks from 1988 to 1998. But he’s had a rocky relationship with the team in recent years. The onetime star was accused of striking a security guard during a game on Feb. 8, 2017.
Oakley has filed a lawsuit against Knicks owner James Dolan alleging that he was the one assaulted.
Oakley has filed a lawsuit against Knicks owner James Dolan (pictured left) alleging that he was the one assaulted
The suit, filed in September 2017, also alleges defamation against Madison Square Garden Co, MSG Networks Inc and Dolan, in connection with the incident.
Oakley’s complaint filed in Manhattan federal court comes with additional allegations of libel, slander, false imprisonment and other claims.
Oakley’s lawyer, Alex Spiro (pictured), says the former hoop star has been ‘completely vindicated
He is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages and other remedies.
‘This is a frivolous lawsuit and nothing more than another attempt by Mr. Oakley to garner attention,’ Madison Square Garden Co said in a statement soon after learning of the litigation. ‘We will deal with this accordingly.’
Following the incident, Oakley, 53, accused Dolan of treating him like a ‘common criminal’ by ordering his removal from the game, and launching a ‘coordinated and defamatory’ public campaign against him.
He said this included a tweet in which the Knicks said Oakley ‘behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner’ and expressed hope he ‘gets some help soon,’ intimating he was an alcoholic.
Dolan later told ESPN radio that Oakley ‘has a problem with anger’ and ‘may have a problem with alcohol,’ according to the complaint.
Oakley was initially arrested on misdemeanor assault charges stemming from a scuffle with Madison Square Garden security guards last year
‘By propagating these blatant lies about Mr. Oakley, Defendants Dolan and MSG have caused irreparable harm to his name and career,’ in a ‘transparent attempt to denigrate his standing among Knicks fans,’ the complaint said.
Oakley’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement that Oakley sued ‘out of principle and his desire to hold Mr. Dolan accountable for his actions.’
Wigdor also represents more than 20 current and former Fox News employees suing that company over alleged bias and retaliation.
The Knicks had a reputation for toughness and grittiness during Oakley’s tenure, including in 1994, when they lost to the Houston Rockets in the NBA finals.