photo by: Chris Conde/Journal-World

The Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center is pictured in March of 2022. The center houses the Douglas County District Court and other county services.

A Lawrence man alleged to have pulled a knife on a bouncer at the Flamingo Club pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge in connection with the incident.

The man, Diego Bannister, 33, was charged with one felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly charging at a bouncer at the Flamingo Club, 140 N. Ninth St., on Aug. 16, as the Journal-World reported.

On Tuesday, Bannister pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of endangerment. Judge Stacey Donovan sentenced Bannister to six months in the county jail, which she suspended to 12 months of probation.

Bannister’s attorney, Tom Bath, said that the incident was highly unusual for Bannister, whom he described as a quiet, introverted, mild person who has never been in any trouble before.

The incident happened the first night that Bannister had ever been to the Flamingo Club and he was there drinking alone, Bath said. A surveillance camera caught the incident.

Bath said the video showed Bannister was drinking heavily and was approached by the manager and told to leave. When Bannister didn’t leave right away, the manager grabbed Bannister’s wallet, Bath said.

Bannister reacted by confronting the manager, and when he did, the security staff responded.

“Diego got pummeled pretty severely, a little bit of street justice,” Bath said.

He said that Bannister’s injuries could be seen in his mugshot photo taken by the Sheriff’s Office that night.

Bannister spoke twice at Tuesday’s hearing and apologized to the victim as well as the court system.

“I would like to apologize to everyone involved and directly to the victim,” Bannister said.

The victim was not present at the hearing on Tuesday, but Assistant District Attorney Samantha Foster said she had been in contact with the victim, who only wanted Bannister to undergo anger management classes.

Bath said that Bannister could have asked for diversion in the felony matter but that with the misdemeanor the charge could be expunged sooner.

Bannister has been free on a $2,500 own recognizance bond since his arrest.

The Journal-World has requested Bannister’s mugshot from the sheriff’s office.