Sam Worthington charged after scuffle, hit with restraining order

1/19

Vanilla Ice, real name Robert Van Winkle, was arrested in February 2014 in Florida on suspicion of felony burglary and grand theft. The rapper-turned-DIY Network personality, who allegedly took items from an abandoned home near one he was renovating for his TV show, cut a plea deal for community service, restitution and a clean record if he behaves for nine months.

(Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office / Associated Press)

2/19

Emile Hirsch was arrested Jan. 25, 2015, in Park City, Utah, on suspicion of assault but didn’t pose for booking photos until a March 16 court appearance. He allegedly put Paramount Digital Entertainment/Insurge Pictures VP Daniele Bernfeld in a chokehold at Sundance. (Handout / Getty Images)

3/19

Dustin Diamond, who played Screech on “Saved by the Bell,” was arrested Dec. 26, 2014, in Wisconsin after a bar fight late Christmas night. A police report said he admitted accidentally stabbing a man who was harassing his fiancee. (Ozaukee County Sheriff / Associated Press)

4/19

Former Los Angeles news anchor Bree Walker was arrested by Anaheim police Feb. 19, 2014, after authorities said she appeared drunk and refused to take a Breathalyzer test. (Handout / Getty Images)

5/19

David Cassidy was arrested on suspicion of felony driving while intoxicated on Aug. 21, 2013, in Schodack, N.Y. The actor was released on $2,500 bail. (Handout / Getty Images)

6/19

Dina Lohan was arrested Sept. 12, 2013, in New York on suspicion of driving while intoxicated after cops pulled her over for driving 77 mph in a 55 zone. She blew a 0.20 on a breath test, cops said, more than twice New York’s legal limit of 0.08. (Handout / Getty Images)

7/19

This notorious mug shot of “That ‘70s Show” actress Lisa Robin Kelly is from March 2012, when she was arrested on suspicion of spousal abuse in North Carolina. Kelly was arrested again in Burbank in June 2013 on suspicion of DUI. (Handout / Getty Images)

8/19

This Clark County Detention Center booking photo shows environmental activist Erin Brockovich, 52, arrested June 7, 2013, on suspicion of boating while intoxicated at Lake Mead near Las Vegas. Brockovich was released from the Clark County Detention Center after posting $1,000 bail. (HOPD / AP)

9/19

Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon became agitated after her husband, CAA agent Jim Toth, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Atlanta on April 19, 2013, officials said. Witherspoon was subsequently arrested for disorderly conduct. (Georgia Department of Corrections / AFP)

10/19

Stephen Baldwin was arrested Dec. 6, 2012, and arraigned on charges that he failed to file state income taxes for three years, 2008, 2009 and 2010. (Rockland County District Attorney’s Office / Associated Press)

11/19

The rapper and reality TV personality was arrested Oct. 18, 2012. According to a police report obtained by the Associated Press, he is accused of throwing his fiancee to the floor twice and wielding two knives while chasing and threatening to kill her 17-year-old son. (Las Vegas Police Department / Associated Press)

12/19

Randy Travis is bruised up in a mug shot taken after he was arrested Aug. 8, 2012, on suspicion of DWI and a third-degree felony count of retaliation. He was naked when he was arrested. (Grayson County Sheriff’s Office / Associated Press)

13/19

Amanda Bynes was arrested April 6, 2012, on suspicion of DUI after allegedly clipping the corner of a sheriff’s cruiser in West Hollywood. She later pleaded not guilty, and tweeted a request to President Obama asking that the officer who arrested her be fired. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. / Getty Images)

14/19

Randy Travis was arrested Feb. 6, 2012, on a charge of public intoxication. He was parked at a Baptist church, allegedly smelling of alcohol with an open bottle of wine in the front seat of his Trans Am. (Denton County Sheriff’s Dept. / Associated Press)

15/19

Nicolas Cage was arrested April 16, 2011, in New Orleans on charges of domestic abuse battery and disturbing the peace. He was allegedly drunk and fighting with his wife about whether the French Quarter residence they were standing in front of was their rental home. (Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office / Associated Press)

16/19

Flavor Flav -- real name William Jonathan Drayton Jr. -- was arrested in Las Vegas in May 2011 after a routine traffic stop resulted in police officers finding four warrants out for his arrest. The Public Enemy alum had four misdemeanor traffic warrants. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police / Getty Images)

17/19

David Cassidy’s car was stopped Nov. 3, 2010, on the Florida Turnpike for weaving and nearly causing an accident, police said. Cassidy allegedly failed a field sobriety test and later showed a blood alcohol level around 0.14. He pleaded no contest to DUI and got probation. (Florida Highway Patrol / Associated Press)

18/19

MIAMI - NOVEMBER 08: In this handout photo provided by the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department, Lawrence Former NFL great Lawrence Taylor has been indicted on two felony counts and three misdemeanor charges related to the alleged rape of a 16-year-old allegedly hired as a prostitute, the Rockland County, N.Y., district attorney’s office said. (Handout / Getty Images)

19/19

O.J. Simpson’s mugshot from his arrest in Los Angeles in 1994. (Bob Carey / Los Angeles Times)

By Nardine Saad

Feb. 26, 2014 11:35 AM PT

Sam Worthington appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday for his arraignment in a case revolving around a Sunday altercation with a paparazzo.

The “Avatar” star, 37, was formally charged with two counts of assault in the third degree, one count of attempted assault and one count of harassment of photographer Sheng Li, whom Worthington reportedly punched in the face Sunday after Li allegedly kicked the actor’s girlfriend Lara Bingle in the shin, according to TMZ.

Prosecutors said Worthington told officers he was protecting Bingle, the Associated Press reported, and Worthington’s defense lawyer Stacey Richman told the judge that photographers have relentlessly followed the actor.

PHOTOS: Celebrity mug shots

The action star, who was released on his own recognizance, was also given a six-month restraining order that ordered him not to contact Li in person, on the phone or through any social networks, E! reported.

Worthington could face a maximum of one year in jail if found guilty on the charges, according to E!. He’s due back in court May 8, TMZ said.

Li, 37, was arrested on reckless endangerment, assault and harassment charges and is due back in court on April 1. However, Li’s lawyer, Ronald Kuby, told Page Six his client was the one who was attacked by Bingle and he did not retaliate.

“Ms. Bingle was the one that attacked him,” he told the column Monday at Li’s arraignment. “She claims that Mr. Li was following her for four hours and then runs up and kicks her in the shins. In what world does that make any sense?”

ALSO:

JustJared, People tout ‘no kids’ photo policies after stars’ pleas

Jenna Fischer pregnant, expecting baby No. 2 with hubby Lee Kirk

Rocker Tommy Lee engaged to Sofia Toufa; marriage will be his 4th

Follow Ministry of Gossip @LATcelebs.