Dustin Diamond, who played Samuel “Screech” Powers in the 1990s sitcom Saved by the Bell, admitted to police that he stabbed a man at a bar Thursday in Port Washington, Wisconsin, north of Milwaukee, although he claims he was just protecting his fiancé from harm.
Diamond, 37, was released from jail Monday afternoon after posting a $10,000 bond for one charge of second-degree recklessly endangering safety and $1,000 for each of his other two charges, disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon.
Diamond, who is claiming self-defense, told police officers he was defending his 27-year-old fiancée Amanda Schutz.
The charges stem from an altercation that Diamond and his fiancee got into with two men and a woman at the Grand Avenue Saloon on Thursday night.
Dustin 'Screech' Diamond from Saved By The Bell has appeared in court over a Xmas Day stabbing http://t.co/brf4XcPDn4 pic.twitter.com/U0NQcIAlsH
— HuffPost UK Ent (@HuffPostUKEnt) December 30, 2014
During a status hearing on Monday, Diamond’s lawyer Thomas Alberti, said his client has nothing but praise for the Port Washington Police and believes he will be exonerated after due process.
“Dustin doesn’t feel like he is being wronged,” Thomas told People. “He gets that when something like this happens, the police get involved and the court figures it out. He says the Port Washington police have been nothing but exemplary. He gets it. He knows there is a process in this country and in the end he will be exonerated.”
Thomas asked the judge to reduce Diamond’s bail because he didn’t have criminal history and acted in self-defense.
“The State is in possession of photographs and/or Police Officer statements that may reasonably conclude that Amanda Schutz had been punched in the face and forcibly held by more than one adult male,” Thomas said in his motion.
Saved by the bail! Dustin Diamond appeared in court after allegedly stabbing a man at a bar: http://t.co/tp01JwtMZ5 pic.twitter.com/tqkaeg1wCj
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) December 30, 2014
“[Diamond] produced a pocketknife in a desperate attempt to defend his [fiancee] from further harm. [Diamond] hoped to deter the aggressors with the only option that he had: a pocketknife. It was not until one of the aggressors attempted to tackle [Diamond] that any alleged injury occurred,” Thomas said.
'Saved by the Bell' actor posts bail, has hearing. http://t.co/62NpvTQv7L pic.twitter.com/FLvNUpOMJl
— Augusta Chronicle (@AUG_Chronicle) December 30, 2014
Thomas said it’s not uncommon for Wisconsin people to carry pocketknives.
“It is just an everyday tool,” he said. “It is not at all uncommon. Dustin has zero criminal history. He is not a thug walking around trying to stick people up. Dustin and Amanda are neat people. They are upbeat. Dustin is a comedian and he likes making people laugh and pleasing people. He is a good-natured person.”
Diamond’s next court appearance is set for Jan. 5, 2015.