GaryMrMets
04-01-2003, 07:33 PM
L. Hernandez Settles, Won't Face Assault Charges
.c The Associated Press
MIAMI (April 1) -- Montreal Expos pitcher Livan Hernandez settled charges Tuesday that he swung golf clubs at a 65-year-old man.
Prosecutors will drop charges of felony aggravated assault and battery on the elderly if Hernandez attends anger management classes, performs 50 hours of community service and donates $500 to charity.
Hernandez, who was traded to the Expos from San Francisco on March 24, can wait until the offseason to meet the terms and may travel with the team.
"We are not admitting anything,'' said Hernandez's attorney, Manuel Vasquez. "We probably would have won the case, but we didn't want to take the risk of going before a jury.''
Hernandez was in Atlanta with the Expos on Tuesday and did not attend the hearing. Francisco Martinez, a warehouse owner, has sued Hernandez but no trial date has been set.
Hernandez faced up to five years in prison on each charge. The pitcher contended it was Martinez who threw the punches earlier this year. Hernandez added that he never struck back or tried to hit Martinez with the golf clubs.
Hernandez, who defected from Cuba, has spent nine years in the majors and was the 1997 World Series MVP with Florida. He started and lost Game 7 for the Giants during last year's World Series against Anaheim.
04/01/03 12:11 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
.c The Associated Press
MIAMI (April 1) -- Montreal Expos pitcher Livan Hernandez settled charges Tuesday that he swung golf clubs at a 65-year-old man.
Prosecutors will drop charges of felony aggravated assault and battery on the elderly if Hernandez attends anger management classes, performs 50 hours of community service and donates $500 to charity.
Hernandez, who was traded to the Expos from San Francisco on March 24, can wait until the offseason to meet the terms and may travel with the team.
"We are not admitting anything,'' said Hernandez's attorney, Manuel Vasquez. "We probably would have won the case, but we didn't want to take the risk of going before a jury.''
Hernandez was in Atlanta with the Expos on Tuesday and did not attend the hearing. Francisco Martinez, a warehouse owner, has sued Hernandez but no trial date has been set.
Hernandez faced up to five years in prison on each charge. The pitcher contended it was Martinez who threw the punches earlier this year. Hernandez added that he never struck back or tried to hit Martinez with the golf clubs.
Hernandez, who defected from Cuba, has spent nine years in the majors and was the 1997 World Series MVP with Florida. He started and lost Game 7 for the Giants during last year's World Series against Anaheim.
04/01/03 12:11 EST
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.