Hank Williams Jr. Surrenders in Assault Case

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Hank Williams Jr. surrendered to police Tuesday on a warrant issued in an alleged assault on a hotel waitress last month, a charge his publicist claimed is driven by "greed."

Holly Hornbeak, 19, has told police she was waiting tables at the Peabody Hotel's lobby bar March 18 when the country superstar asked to kiss her and lifted her off the ground in a chokehold. No charges were issued in the case until an arrest warrant was taken out Monday.

In a release headlined, "Hank Jr. victim of greed," publicist Kirt Webster said Tuesday that Williams received a March 21 letter from Hornbeak's lawyer seeking "an outlandish amount of money." Webster contended Hornbeak decided to press charges because Williams refused to meet the demands.

The country singer cut short a hunting trip to return to Memphis and surrender to the sheriff's department, Webster said.

Williams, 56, has been in Memphis since his daughters Holly Williams, 25, and Hilary Williams, 27, were seriously injured in a March 15 car crash near Dundee, Miss.

Webster told The Associated Press on Monday that Williams hasn't been interviewed by police.

"There's nothing to say," Webster said. "He doesn't know what all the allegations are and what the charges are."

Hilary Williams underwent another minor surgery Monday, and doctors were discussing moving her to a Nashville hospital in coming weeks, Webster said.

Holly Williams has been released from the hospital.

Hank Williams Jr. has had a string of No. 1 hits including "Family Tradition" and "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight." He has sung the theme for ABC's "Monday Night Football" since 1989.

His father, a star in the late 1940s to early 1950s, had hits such as "Your Cheatin' Heart" and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." He died Jan. 1, 1953, when Hank Jr. was 3.