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Texas Rangers reliever Frank Francisco pleaded not guilty Friday to a misdemeanor assault charge for breaking a woman's nose after tossing a chair into the stands at an Oakland Athletics game, his attorney said.
Francisco could face one year in county jail and a maximum three years' probation if convicted. A felony charge carried a possible penalty of three years in state prison.
The pitcher was not required to appear Friday for his arraignment in Alameda County Superior Court.
"We have no intention of pleading guilty to that charge," said his attorney, Rick Minkoff. "I was hopeful... that there wouldn't be any criminal charges. We'll just have to see."
Francisco hurled a plastic chair into the right field seats after fans near the Rangers bullpen began heckling the team during Texas' loss to the A's on Sept. 13.
The chair struck Jennifer Bueno and broke her nose. Her husband, Craig, had been among the fans heckling the Rangers.
Francisco's agent, Richard Thompson, had hoped the charges would be dropped altogether.
"If you look at the whole scope of possibilities -- felony, misdemeanor or dismissal -- obviously, dismissal would have been the best," he said.
Francisco was suspended for 15 games and has since returned to his home in the Dominican Republic.
Source: AP
Francisco could face one year in county jail and a maximum three years' probation if convicted. A felony charge carried a possible penalty of three years in state prison.
The pitcher was not required to appear Friday for his arraignment in Alameda County Superior Court.
"We have no intention of pleading guilty to that charge," said his attorney, Rick Minkoff. "I was hopeful... that there wouldn't be any criminal charges. We'll just have to see."
Francisco hurled a plastic chair into the right field seats after fans near the Rangers bullpen began heckling the team during Texas' loss to the A's on Sept. 13.
The chair struck Jennifer Bueno and broke her nose. Her husband, Craig, had been among the fans heckling the Rangers.
Francisco's agent, Richard Thompson, had hoped the charges would be dropped altogether.
"If you look at the whole scope of possibilities -- felony, misdemeanor or dismissal -- obviously, dismissal would have been the best," he said.
Francisco was suspended for 15 games and has since returned to his home in the Dominican Republic.
Source: AP