Frank Micelotta/Getty ImagesUPDATE: Cornelius was sentenced to three years' probation after pleading no contest to one count of corporeal injury resulting in traumatic condition of a spouse stemming from his October arrest.
He was also fined $1,000; ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and complete a 52-week domestic violence treatment program; banned from possessing, owning or using deadly weapons or threatening violence against any person, particularly his wife; and ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from the Mulholland estate where the attack took place.
As part of the plea deal, four other misdemeanor charges were dropped.
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You can bet your last money, it's gonna be an interesting court fight, honey.
Erstwhile Soul Train ringmaster Don Cornelius has been charged with multiple misdemeanors for last month's domestic-violence arrest.
The 72-year-old showbiz vet faces three counts of spousal battery, one count of dissuading a witness from making a police report and one count of assault with a deadly weapon—each charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in county jail.
Cornelius is due to appear in court later today to enter his plea, according to Los Angeles City Attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan.
E! News has also learned that the charges actually stem from not one, but two separate run-ins with his wife, Victoria.
The first incident took place in July 2007, but he was not initially charged. Then, on Oct. 17 police responded to a 911 call at his home and took him into custody. Cornelius remains free on $50,000 bail.
UPDATE: On Dec. 4, Cornelius pleaded not guilty to all five counts and was ordered to appear at a pretrial hearing in January.
(Originally published Nov. 14, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. PT)