Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx [ tickets ] was handed a 30-day suspended jail sentence and placed on probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of inciting a riot and assault on a security guard at a 1997 concert in Greensboro, N.C.

Sixx and Tommy Lee [ tickets ]--Motley Crue's former drummer--were arrested following the October, 1997 concert at Greensboro Coliseum in which Sixx allegedly directed racial slurs at a black guard and encouraged the crowd to attack him. Sixx and Lee also allegedly poured beer on the guard's head. Bandmembers claimed they were provoked when they saw the security guard roughing up some fans.

Sixx was charged with a felony count of riot with ethnic intimidation, assault and disorderly conduct. Under Sixx's plea arrangement, prosecutors reduced the felony riot charge to inciting a riot, a misdemeanor. (No contest pleas are treated the same as a guilty pleas by criminal courts, but the defendant does not admit to guilt.)

In addition to the suspended jail sentence and 18 months of unsupervised probation, Sixx was also ordered to pay a $150 fine and court costs at the hearing, which took place last week.

Lee received a similar sentence after entering no contest pleas last month.

The security guard has filed a civil suit against Sixx, Lee and others in connection with the case, which is scheduled to be heard in May. He seeks more than $75,000 for claims including verbal assault, battery, and intentional infliction of mental distress.

Sixx was arrested following a Motley Crue concert in Raleigh, N.C., last October on an outstanding warrant related to the charges.