Charge Reduced for Brawling Easter Bunny

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (TheBlaze/AP) — A New Jersey mall Easter bunny who got into a scuffle with a father last month has had a criminal charge against him downgraded.

NJ.com reports a Hudson County judge Wednesday downgraded the aggravated assault charge against Kassim Charles to the disorderly persons offense of simple assault. The case also was sent to the Jersey City Municipal Court.

Easter Bunny gets into brawl at New Jersey mall https://t.co/bgyIIzoXzm #wftv pic.twitter.com/qT4hzFjy3x

— WFTV Eyewitness News (@WFTV) March 26, 2016

Charles, 22, is from Jersey City. He had been playing the role of the Easter bunny at the Newport Centre. Authorities say Juan Jimenez-Guerrero attacked Charles when his toddler daughter slipped from a chair while getting her photo taken. The Easter bunny's head was knocked off as the scuffle ensued. A video posted online shows them exchanging punches.

Charles' defense attorney says they look forward to vindicating "the bunny."

An update on an aggravated assault charge against Jimenez-Guerrero was not immediately available. Jimenez-Guerrero's wife says he was trying to protect their child.

If he had been convicted of aggravated assault, Charles could have faced three to five years in state prison, according to NJ.com. But if he is convicted of simple assault, Charles will face only up to six months in jail.

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