| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
Livan Hernandez hearing on plea deal postponed again
Tuesday March 25, 2003MIAMI (AP) Montreal Expos pitcher Livan Hernandez did not send the necessary paperwork to his lawyer, causing the postponement of a Tuesday hearing to settle charges that he swung golf clubs at an elderly warehouse owner.
Attorney Manuel Vasquez said that Hernandez faxed him copies of the documents, but said he needs the originals. The hearing was rescheduled for April 1.
Hernandez, who was traded to the Expos from the San Francisco Giants on Monday, also failed to file the proper paperwork in a previous hearing on March 10.
Under terms of the agreement announced Feb. 28, prosecutors will drop felony aggravated assault and battery on the elderly charges if Hernandez attends anger management classes, performs 50 hours of community service and donates $500 to charity. He has until after the baseball season ends this fall to meet the terms, if he agrees to the deal.
Hernandez, who was the 1997 World Series MVP with the Florida Marlins, faces up to five years in prison on each charge. Hernandez has disputed the allegations, saying it was the warehouse owner, Francisco Martinez, 65, who threw punches, and that he never struck back or tried to hit him with the golf clubs.
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