Assault Charges Against Harley Flanagan, Former Cro-Mags Bassist, Dismissed

Assault charges against Harley Flanagan, the former Cro-Mags bassist accused of attacking two of the legendary New York City punk group's current members with a hunting knife prior to a scheduled performance on July 6, have been dropped, according to DNAINfo.com. The news came today (Dec. 14) via Flanagan's lawyer Sean Parmenter, who believes prosecutors lacked evidence to move forward with the case.

"This is great news for him and his family," said Parmenter. "He feels vindicated."

Flanagan has maintained since the incident, which occurred backstage at New York City's Webster Hall during the CBGB Festival, that he acted in self-defense. According to Exclaim.ca, Flanagan claimed he'd been ambushed by the group, and that fear of an "old fashion biker beat down" led him to use a knife against present-day Cro-Mags William Berario and Michael Couls.

"When I saw that door get pulled shut I was literally fighting for my life," Flanagan said. "I was afraid these guys were going to kick me half to death, roll me down the back steps and that no one would see it... and there would be no witnesses and that would be that."

Authorities, meanwhile, said the rocker charged into a backstage area and instigated the attack, stabbing both men and biting Berario on the face.