BOULDER — Former child TV star Brian Bonsall was given two years probation Friday stemming from a domestic violence incident in north Boulder involving his girlfriend.

Bonsall, 25, who played the kid brother to Michael J. Fox on TV's "Family Ties," agreed to a guilty plea to third-degree assault, in return for dismissal of three other charges, in an agreement worked out Friday.

Both prosecutors and his defense attorney said Bonsall is doing well, staying off alcohol, attending therapy with his girlfriend and working full time.

"He's been doing what he is supposed to be doing since late March," Assistant District Attorney Peter Maguire said. "He's been clean on his monitored urinalysis."

Bonsall was arrested March 28 for investigation of third-degree assault, felony menacing, false imprisonment and obstruction by telephone — the last charge being when one party prevents another from using a telephone.

Bonsall's girlfriend, Lindsay Dunavan, told police Bonsall put her in a chokehold and threw her onto a bed when she tried to leave.

Before the March 28 incident, Bonsall had had a history of minor scrapes with the law, including drinking and driving and disorderly conduct.

Since then, Bonsall's attorney, Paul McCormick, said, "He's done remarkably well."

He is back together with his girlfriend, Lindsay Dunavan, and has won back some freedoms since the March incident.

Bonsall went through a 30-day rehab program, and Dunavan, who also was a suspect in the domestic violence case but wasn't charged, went through a different 30-day program. The judge then relaxed the protection order.

"They're in couples counseling," McCormick said. "They've moved back in together. He's been 100 percent compliant in sobriety monitoring."

Bonsall is working construction and also playing in a rock band, McCormick said.

"Brian is happy," McCormick said. "The thing he is most happy with is that he's gotten his life together. He's been sober for five months and something like three days. He has it memorized to the day."

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