Rodman charged with spousal abuse

LOS ANGELES, May 16 (UPI) -- Former U.S. basketball star Dennis Rodman has been charged with spousal abuse in connection with an incident with his girlfriend last month, authorities said.

The Los Angeles Times said Rodman, 47, was also charged with brandishing a deadly weapon and trying to dissuade a witness in connection with a domestic violence.

All three charges are misdemeanors and stem from an alleged April 30 confrontation between Rodman and his girlfriend at the Intercontinental Hotel in Century City, Calif.

Rodman was booked at the Van Nuys, Calif., jail and later released on $50,000 bail, the Times said.

"His girlfriend of four years sustained visible physical injuries," Nick Velasquez, a representative for the Los Angeles city attorney's office, told the newspaper.

Rodman is due in court Thursday.

His manager Steve Simon told the Times alcohol was a factor in the incident.

Rodman has battled substance abuse in the past and reportedly checked into a Florida rehab shortly after his arrest last month.