John Rich feels the strain of his legal troubles

Former ‘Nashville Star’ contestant claims the singer assaulted him

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updated 5:55 p.m. ET May 29, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - John Rich said Friday the publicity he’s received from the legal dispute with a former “Nashville Star” contestant has been stressful and a huge distraction as he promotes his recent solo album and prepares for a summer Big & Rich tour.

The 35-year-old country star denies all charges, adding: “I’m disappointed that something like this has to be in the press when so many things are going on in the world that are important. It’s a waste of time, but unfortunately that’s what’s going on.”

Rich turned himself in to Nashville police Thursday to face charges filed by Jared Ashley, a country singer from the fourth season of the “Nashville Star” TV talent show.

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Rich, who was a judge on the show but not the same year Ashley was on, is charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault and one misdemeanor count of harassment from incidents that allegedly happened last June and this March. He was released on $3,000 bond.

Rich said Friday that Ashley and his attorney Chris Sevier filed the charges in retaliation for a defamation suit Rich brought against Ashley last month. In his suit, Rich says Ashley defamed him by claiming on a radio show that Rich hit him in the face.

Rich also said Friday that Ashley and Sevier demanded that he pay $2.9 million in exchange for them dropping the charges.

Sevier called Rich’s claims “completely false.”

“There was no discussion about settling the criminal case with money. That is improper in and of itself,” Sevier said Friday. “A criminal case can’t be decided by money. If he’s saying (Ashley) was trying to pay to have the criminal case go away, that’s improper.”

Rich said he’s known Ashley several years “as a singer around Nashville.” It’s unclear how their feud started.

“There are so many details in this thing and back and forth for me to even discuss,” Rich said. “It’s moved to the point now that it’s going to court.”

According to arrest warrants Ashley signed, the first assault occurred in June 2008 at a club where Ashley was performing. The affidavit alleges that Rich walked on stage near the end of the show, put his arm around Ashley’s neck, verbally threatened him and “squeezed” and “jerked” his neck several times.

The second and third incidents happened in March when Ashley was visiting a private club owned by Rich. The country star allegedly got into an argument with Ashley and punched him in the jaw. That same day, Rich also allegedly left Ashley a threatening phone message.