Ronnie of "Jersey Shore" avoids trial

(CBS/AP) TOMS RIVER, New Jersey - It may not be as easy as it sounds for "Jersey Shore" cast member Ronald "Ronnie"' Ortiz-Magro to stay out of trouble long enough for assault charges against him to be dismissed.

The charges stem from a fight outside a Seaside Heights nightclub in 2009 that was shown during the first season of the MTV reality series.

A judge in Ocean County on Monday admitted the 25-year-old Bronx, N.Y., resident into a pretrial intervention program for 18 months.

Under the program, he neither admits nor denies guilt. If he stays out of trouble for the 18 months, charges will be dismissed.

But as "Jersey Shore" fans know, bar fights are nothing new for Ortiz-Magro, and as recent reports have shown, they are also nothing new for Seaside Heights, N.J., where the MTV reality series is filmed. The Seaside Heights boardwalk was closed down one night earlier this month because of all the fights that broke out after fireworks.

The Asbury Park Press reports Ortiz-Magro told the judge he'd be willing to perform community service.

Ortiz-Magro is accused of assaulting Stephen Izzo. Izzo has a civil suit pending against the cast member and MTV.

Taping for the series' fifth season has resumed in Seaside Heights.