Columbia�s city prosecutor on Friday deferred the prosecution of a University of Missouri professor charged with assault for an altercation with journalists during protests on campus in November.

Melissa Click, 45, an assistant professor of communication, has agreed to a deal in which city Prosecutor Steve Richey will forgo prosecution for misdemeanor assault as long as she completes 20 hours of community service and does not break the law for one year, Richey said in a news release.

�Based on the facts of this case, I believe this disposition to be appropriate,� Richey said in the release. �This disposition is in keeping with my office�s handling of dozens of similar Municipal cases and adequately serves the interest of justice by ensuring the defendant will not engage in similar conduct.�

He declined to comment further and was not available late Friday morning.

Click drew attention and widespread scorn after a video of her asking for �some muscle� to clear two student journalists, photographer Tim Tai and videographer Mark Schierbecker, from Carnahan Quadrangle on Nov. 9 during the height of demonstrations against racism on campus. The video quickly went viral.

Schierbecker, who pursued the charges, said in a phone interview Friday that he did not have any comment on whether he thought the punishment for Click was appropriate.

�The city prosecutor told me this is fairly standard offer for cases like this,� Schierbecker said. �I thought it was reached in a timely manner. I�m hoping that Melissa Click can hold to her bargain.�

Click was charged Monday with third-degree assault, a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 15 days in jail and a $300 fine upon conviction. Her attorney, Columbia-based Christopher Slusher, was not available for comment late Friday morning. A receptionist at his firm said he would issue a statement on the case in the afternoon.

Concerned Student 1950, the group that led the protests that prompted former UM System President Tim Wolfe to resign, issued a statement Thursday in support of Click, who is suspended as the university investigates her actions. The statement said Click is a victim of �social and political violence.�

�The University of Missouri System is devoting time to tarnishing Click�s career instead of dismantling the oppressive racist social system that it perpetuates!� the statement said.

More than 100 Republican state lawmakers have called for Click�s termination while more than 100 faculty members have expressed their support of her.

This article was first published online on Friday, January 29, 2016 at 11:43 a.m.