Alec Baldwin Pleads Guilty To Harassment In Parking Space Brawl

WEST VILLAGE, NY — Actor Alec Baldwin avoided jail time after pleading guilty to a violation for allegedly punching a man over a parking spot in the West Village.

Baldwin pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment Wednesday in Manhattan criminal court, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney's office said. The "Saturday Night Live" star will be forced to undergo a "short term anger management program" as part of the plea, the spokeswoman said.

Prosecutors offered Baldwin the deal after reviewing video surveillance and speaking with witnesses of a Nov. 2 fight between the actor and a man who allegedly stole his parking spot on East 10th Street in the West Village.

Baldwin, 60, attempted to drive his black Cadillac Escalade into a parking space in front of a condo development on East 10th Street and University Place at about 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 2, police said.

The actor claimed a family member was trying to hold the space for him when 49-year-old Wojciech Cieszkowski stole the spot, a police spokesman said.

The pair got into an argument that escalated into a shoving match and ended with Baldwin punching the man in the face, police said. Officers arrested the actor and took him into custody at the NYPD's 6th Precinct station house in the Village, police said.

Cieszkowski, 49, was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital with jaw pain, authorities said.

On the day of his arrest, Baldwin denied allegations that he ever punched Cieszkowski.

"Normally, I would not comment on something as egregiously misstated as today's story," Baldwin posted on Twitter. "However, the assertion that I punched anyone over a parking spot is false."

Baldwin was initially charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment. The harassment charge Baldwin pleaded guilty to is considered a violation, not a crime.

Alec Baldwin walks out of the NYPD's 6th Precinct, Friday, Nov. 2. (Photo courtesy of Julie Jacobson/AP)