TUCSON, April 22 (UPI) -- Country music star Chris Cagle has been ordered to stand trial for misdemeanor assault for allegedly punching a fan in Tucson, Ariz., officials say.
A City Court judge set a trial date for Sept. 23, after Cagle finishes touring in support of his album, "My Life's Been a Country Song," the Tucson Citizen reported Tuesday.
Cagle is accused of punching Mark Barry following a Dec. 13 benefit concert. The altercation began after Barry's girlfriend got "verbally abusive" when the country star -- who had signed several autographs for her -- refused to sign another one, police said.
Cagle's attorney said in a pretrial statement he will argue his client acted in self-defense, the newspaper said.
Cagle and his soundman, Kenneth Hoyt, were also named by Barry in a civil lawsuit filed in Pima County Superior Court. Hoyt suffered a broken wrist in the melee.
