TV Actor Dustin Diamond Sentenced 4 Months in Jail For Bar Fight Stabbing

Dustin Diamond, famously known for his portrayal of "Screech" in the TV series "Saved By The Bell," is going to prison for 4 months after a stabbing incident at a Wisconsin bar on Christmas 2014. 

Former child star Dustin Diamond, 38, is sentenced to spend 120 days in jail after being convicted of two misdemeanors, disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon.

He has been acquitted of a felony charge. In addition to 4 months imprisonment, Diamond will also be doing 15 months of probation and maintain sobriety from all controlled substances until the end of his probation, according to the LA Times.

The actor told the jurors that he took a knife out to defend his girlfriend and with the intention to only scare off people, including a woman who had punched his girlfriend. He added that he only stabbed the man by accident and that he did not know he had stabbed a man until he was informed by the police later.

"Let me express just how sorry I am that a night that centers around celebrating peace and love could turn into a night of immense regret for the rest of one's life," Diamond said at his sentencing as reported by ET Online. "Even though my intentions were solely to defend a loved one, they nevertheless were the cause of the single most terrifying experience of my entire life."

The stabbing victim said that he did not notice that he had been stabbed nor saw Diamond brandishing a knife. The authorities said that the wounds were not deep nor life-threatening.

Witnesses testified that it was Diamond's girlfriend, Amanda Schutz, who began the fight. The witnesses said that Schutz pushed one woman at the bar and grabbed another woman's hand which started the bar fight. She was convicted of disorderly conducted and fined with $500.

"I want it to be clear that this situation will never be repeated again," Diamond said to end his statement. "I sincerely apologize to everyone, not just those directly involved and ask for forgiveness for the way the night was handled."

Since appearing at the hit teen 90s TV show "Saved By The Bell," Diamond has incurred several infractions including delinquent taxes and missing mortgage payments. According to ABC News, the actor has also appeared on reality TV shows, starred in a sex tape and produced a documentary called "The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story."