Hayden PanettiereHayden Panettiere’s father Alan Panettiere has been formally charged with battery after he allegedly assaulted his wife, the Heroes star’s mum Lesley last month.

Alan is said to have “struck his wife one or two times on the cheek .. with a closed fist” during a drunken argument after a night out last month. He was arrested the following day and after being released on $50,000 bail, was spotted returning to their West Hollywood home with a sunglasses-wearing Lesley. The couple told reporters that the incident had been “blown out of proportion” and was a “misunderstanding”.

However, he has now been formally charged with misdemeanor battery, which could result in a year’s jail time if found guilty.

The arraignment has been scheduled to take place on 11th October, two months after the initial incident.