Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Bryan Bennett (1) shakes hands with former NFL player Deion Sanders, right, at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 23, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

DALLAS (AP) — An ex-worker is suing over his firing and assault against a nonprofit sponsor of a now-closed North Texas academy co-founded by NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

The Dallas Morning News ( ) reports Kevin Jefferson was Prime Prep Academy’s chief financial officer. He says he had a multiyear contract and was fired a few months after telling police Sanders had choked him during a 2013 staff meeting.

Sanders pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and paid about $766 in fines and court costs.

Jefferson wants up to $1 million in the lawsuit against Uplift Fort Worth.

The newspaper says the nonprofit’s president wasn’t available for comment, and that a message seeking comment was left with Sanders.

The charter school closed in January after a state-appointed board determined it was insolvent.

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Information from: The Dallas Morning News,

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