A New Jersey man accused of pepper spraying a transgender person the night before a rally in Asbury Park in September pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disturbing the peace on Thursday.

Morris May, 23, of Scotch Plains received a 90-day suspended sentence, a $250 fine and 100 hours of community service, court administrator Patricia Greene confirmed Friday.

May admitted he sprayed Allison Kolarik, 34 with mace outside a shop on Ocean Avenue in the city on Sept. 3. Volunteers had convened there to prepare for a "Stand Against Hate" rally planned for Labor Day. May, who was originally charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses, maintains he acted in self-defense.

"When I was at the protest with my brother, this transgender individual stormed up to me and violated my personal space even as I attempted to back away, so I gave (Kolarik) a spray of mace," May said in a phone interview Friday morning.

Kolarik told APP.com that May was heard saying, "I hate liberals. I hate you people. You're trying to take away our rights," and that she tried to talk to him outside the shop.

"I'm glad I do not have to face jail time or probation, however I don't feel the outcome is justified," May said. 'Any surveillance footage or honest witness would say I acted entirely out of self-defense."

May wanted to make it clear that he is not a racist.

"I am not a white supremacist, " he said. "I never called myself a white supremacist. Only the liberal-infested media did that."

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.