Marion “Suge” Knight is facing criminal charges following his arrest in August in Las Vegas on suspicion of assault.

The incident that led to the rap mogul’s arrest in August was of a violent nature. Police found the 43-year-old founder of Death Row Records beating his girlfriend, identified as Melissa Isaac, in a parking lot near the Las Vegas Strip. He was also brandishing a knife.

The woman was not cut but did require medical attention for injuries caused by his strikes. Officers found ecstasy and hydrocodone on Knight when they arrested him. He was released after posting $19,000 bail.

Marion Knight has already been charged with two counts of drug possession and one count of misdemeanor battery, according to papers filed in Las Vegas Justice Court. If convicted, he could face a maximum of four years in jail for each of the drug charges and six months for the assault charge.

Knight’s defense attorney, Richard Schonfeld, said his client would enter a not guilty plea on December 16, when his arraignment has been scheduled. Schonfeld stated he would defend his client “vigorously” against the charges, as quoted by the Associated Press.

At the time of Knight’s arrest, authorities said they received a call about a car that was out of control on the Las Vegas Strip. Isaac later recounted how she and Knight were in the car, with him driving, and an argument started. He hit her in the head and she made an attempt to escape from the car, grabbing the steering wheel and causing the car to hit a curb and stop abruptly. She exited the car and ran away and Knight followed her.

Officers arrived at the parking lot just as the rap mogul was standing over Isaac, threatening her with a knife. The two had been in a relationship for three years.

Knight founded Death Row Records, a record label that launched the careers of artists Tupac Shakur, Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg but ultimately fell apart because of its debts. Knight filed for bankruptcy and the label was sold at auction for $24 million in July of this year.