Charges against the Newport Centre Mall Easter bunny who was videotaped brawling with a parent a week before Easter will be heard in the Jersey City Municipal Court.

"We look forward to the bunny being vindicated," attorney James Lisa said today of his client, Kassim Charles, the 22-year-old Jersey City man who was initially charged with the criminal offense of aggravated assault a day after the March 20 incident.

On Wednesday, Lisa represented Charles at a hearing before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale, who downgraded the charge to the disorderly persons offense of simple assault and remanded the matter the Jersey City Municipal Court.

Charles could have faced three to five years in state prison if convicted of aggravated assault. In municipal court, he will face only up to six months in the Hudson County jail in Kearny if convicted of simple assault.

Also charged with aggravated assault in the bizarre scuffle was Juan Jimenez-Guerrero, 44, of Bright Street in Jersey City. An update on the charges against Jimenez-Guerrero was not immediately available this afternoon.

Charles had been posing with Jimenez-Guerrero's 15-month-old daughter when he dropped the baby, the girl's mother, Nathalie Moreira, said after today's hearing. Charles had told police the child slipped out of the chair after her photo was taken, Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said at the time.

Tempers flared and the rabbit and Jimenez-Guerrero fought briefly, were separated, and then went at it again when Charles ran back toward Jimenez-Guerrero, according to the video.

A court date has not yet been set for Charles' appearance in municipal court.