Monique Samuels Charged with Second-Degree Assault After Alleged Incident with Candiace Dillard Bassett

Monique Samuels has been charged with second-degree assault from the District Court of Montgomery County in Maryland, according to a summons obtained by PEOPLE.

Candiace Dillard Bassett filed a complaint directly with the court's commission on Thursday, November 7, according to court records. The commissioner found probable cause in Candiace's complaint and issued a summons for Monique to appear in court on December 23, PEOPLE reports.

The charge is related to an alleged incident between Monique and Candiace on October 16.

“At this time, we do not want to say too much and just allow the criminal process to play out. We only ask everyone to pray for our client Candiace and her family,” Candiace's attorney, James L. Walker Jr., told PEOPLE in a statement. “The physical assault, humiliation and emotional distress have all been very painful and difficult for Candiace, as it would be for anyone attacked so viciously."

“We also pray that Monique will get some help,” Walker continued. “The summons to court charge of Second Degree Assault is just one step below first-degree assault and must be taken very seriously. This behavior has no place in our society.”

Walker concluded his statement asking that “everyone respect the privacy of the parties and allow the Montgomery County District Court to exercise its duty here to protect victims like Candiace.”

Monique's attorney, A. Scott Bolden, told PEOPLE that Candiace's claims are “completely one-sided, inaccurate and unwarranted,” adding, “Ms. Dillard has a public reputation for aggressive, belligerent and threatening behavior that has played out repeatedly on the Housewives of Potomac for millions of viewers to see for themselves.”

Bolden continued, “To be sure, my client did nothing but defend herself in the face of more very aggressive behavior by Ms. Dillard. If this event occurred during taping of the show, I am confident that the video will bear all of this out. My client has every right to file for a counter criminal summons, as well, and will consider doing so, while fully defending herself in this action that has been filed with the Court. Either way, I am confident that she will prevail on this matter. Going forward, we hope that Ms. Dillard seeks the help she needs to avoid creating these kinds of unsafe and unfortunate circumstances in and outside of the workplace.”