Forward Richard Jefferson was charged with misdemeanor assault yesterday in Minneapolis municipal court for allegedly choking a man in an incident following the Nets’ game in Minnesota Jan. 27.

The complaint filed by the city attorney in Minneapolis Fourth District Court alleges Jefferson entered an area reserved for a private birthday party at a club within the Graves Hotel, where the team was staying. The complainant, Lyle Fox, alleges after he asked Jefferson to leave, the player began choking him. Fox went unconscious “for a small amount of time,” according to court papers. Police arrived and saw “red marks” around [Fox’s] neck. Since the incident, Fox contends he “has had voice problems and a hard time swallowing.”

Jefferson faces up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine on the fifth-degree assault charge. He has a June 18 court appearance set. Jefferson could not be reached and the Nets had no comment.