By Bryan Schwartzman
Anthony Mason, the former New York Knick and Springfield Gardens High School basketball star, is in trouble with the law again.
Mason, 33 was arrested by police in the 28th Precinct in Harlem with three friends from Laurelton and one from Jamaica for the part they allegedly played in an early Saturday morning brawl outside an upscale Harlem bar at 553 Manhattan Ave. that left three people injured.
Mason, a Springfield Gardens native who now plays for the Charlotte Hornets, was charged with assault in the third degree – a misdemeanor – for taking part in the fight that started at about 3:45 a.m. outside Perk's Fine Cuisine, according to the criminal complaint from the Manhattan district attorney's office.
Mason was released on $1,000 bail, according to a spokeswoman for the Manhattan DA. He later played in Saturday night's game against the New Jersey Nets in the Continental Airlines Arena.
Four other friends of Mason's were charged with varying counts of third-degree assault in the incident, which started when William Leary bumped into Albert McGibboney, the complaint said.
The four are: Jakime Duggins, 26, of 139-30 226th St., Laurelton; William Leary, 26, 139-36 228th St., Laurelton; Anthony Kelly 35, of 160-40 120th Ave., Jamaica, and Paul Boling, 24, of 219-12 141st Ave., in Laurelton. They were released on $1,000 bond.
McGibboney, who was badly beaten, was also arrested for attempting to assault a police officer who arrived on the scene, the DA said.
All of the defendants were scheduled to appear in criminal court March 13.
Two other unidentified people were injured in the fight, officials said.
Back in 1998, Mason and his cousin, William Duggins, were charged with the statutory rape of two Queens sisters. DNA tests did not prove Mason had intercourse with either minor. He entered a plea bargain to a lesser charge and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service.
Mason's first brush with the law occurred in 1989, when he faced felony gun charges and received five years' probation and 200 hours of community service for the offense.
In 1996, he was accused of fighting with police in the Times Square area in a dispute over a parking ticket and was sued by a Manhattan restaurant patron for allegedly attacking him.
