HE’S CAGE-FREE
Service deal for McGregor in Barclays brawl
Mixed martial arts bad boy Conor McGregor, in a Thursday plea bargain deal, dodged jail time for inciting a barricadetossing Barclays Center melee.
The 30-year-old Irish fighter, who faced up to seven years in prison on a felony criminalmischief charge, instead pleaded guilty to simple disorderly conduct at a Brooklyn Criminal Court hearing.
“I just want to say I'm thankful to the judge and the DA for allowing me to move forward,” said a clearly pleased McGregor after the hearing. “I want to say to my friends, my family, my fans – thanks for the support.”
The felony charge was dismissed, sparing the one-time MMA champion a criminal record going forward. He was ordered to attend anger management classes and perform five days of community service.
Team McGregor indicated quickly that the fighter, with his legal woes behind him, was eager to return to the UFC octagon. “Now it's just about getting back to business,” said his manager Audie Attar.
Defense attorney Bruce Maffeo insisted his client, despite his global notoriety, was treated like any other defendant by the Brooklyn district attorney.
“This is the same outcome that would have occurred if he had been a noncelebrity,” said Maffeo. “The DA's office thought this through very carefully … McGregor's looking forward to completing his community service and moving on with his career.”
While the DA's office will determine when and where McGregor will do his community service, the fighter's immigration and travel status will not be affected by the plea, according to Maffeo.
McGregor, marching briskly into court wearing a black suit and blue-and-red striped tie, was cheered by a horde of screaming fans when he arrived to enter his plea. He was accused of instigating an April 5 incident on the day of a Ultimate Fighting Championship media event, with metal barricades flung at a bus and two fighters injured by broken glass.