Film director Quentin Tarantino, who is being sued by a fashion stylist after allegedly hitting her in a brawl, now faces criminal charges in the case.
Tarantino surrendered to police in New York's East Village on Thursday and was charged with assault.
He will appear at a later date before a judge at Manhattan Criminal Court, where he will be formally arraigned. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail.
Ms Leila Mwangi (25), filed a civil lawsuit last month in Manhattan Supreme Court alleging Tarantino hit her on May 2nd.
She claims the blow was intended for her photographer boyfriend, Barron Clairborne, at a restaurant in East Village.
The civil suit seeks $5 million (around £3.18 million) in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages.
The alleged attack happened at a trendy bar during an argument between Tarantino and Mr Clairborne about the portrayal of blacks in films, according to the lawsuit launched by the fashion stylist.
She and her boyfriend, who is also black, claim the attack was race-related.
Tarantino's credits as a director include Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, which won him an Oscar as co-screenwriter.
He is starring on Broadway in a revival of the thriller Wait Until Dark .