AceShowbiz -

A bench warrant has been issued for former "Scandal" actor Columbus Short. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said on Monday that the actor was slapped with the warrant after he failed to appear in a court hearing.

The actor's court date stemmed from a felony battery charge following an alleged assault against a man in a bar back in March. He may serve up to four years in jail if convicted. Michael Levin, Short's lawyer, told NY Daily News that the judge also revoked his prior bond and doubled his bail.

However, he maintained that his client had a reason for missing the court date which was supposedly held to determine whether there were enough evidence to go trial. "His failure to appear was due to circumstances beyond his control," Levin said.

According to Levin, the actor bumped off the flight he was supposed to be on in Atlanta. He was still trying to get back to Los Angeles on late Monday, but he was worried that he would be arrested before boarding because of the warrant. Therefore, he was considering another "alternative transportation."

This year, Short made headlines with runs-in with the law. In addition to the Los Angeles brawl in March, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor spousal battery and was arrested for public intoxication in July.