Missouri running back Tony Temple pleaded guilty to peace disturbance Wednesday in Boone County Circuit Court stemming from a altercation at a Columbia restaurant in June.

Temple, 21, was charged with third-degree assault for beating up a Bennigan’s restaurant employee over an argument with Temple’s girlfriend.

Travis Jacobs, Temple’s attorney, negotiated a peace disturbance charge with the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. Peace disturbance is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of 30 to 60 days in jail.

Temple arrived in court Wednesday in time to plead guilty to peace disturbance. But to much surprise, Boone County Circuit Judge Larry Bryson declined the plea and gave no reason for doing so.