Puckett charged with felony, misdemeanor counts

[Louis Cypher]

MINNEAPOLIS -- Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett was charged Friday with dragging a woman into a restaurant bathroom last month and fondling her.


The woman had bruises, and her ankle was swollen from hitting a door frame, according to the criminal complaint, which cited several witnesses.


The former Minnesota Twins star was charged with a felony count of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of criminal sexual conduct. He could face a total of up to four years in prison and $8,000 in fines.


But County Attorney Amy Klobuchar said Puckett is more likely to face workhouse time and probation.


Puckett's attorney, B. Todd Jones, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.


Puckett is expected to surrender and post $20,000 bail Monday, Klobuchar said. His first court appearance probably will be in two or three weeks.


Puckett, an outfielder, retired in 1995 after 12 seasons with the Twins, a team he helped win the World Series in 1987 and 1991. He joined the Hall of Fame last year.


"Like most Minnesotans, I remember watching Mr. Puckett help the Twins win two World Series, and he's a great Hall of Fame baseball player. But that night, in that bar, he was no one's hero,'' Klobuchar said.


Puckett's wife, Tonya, filed for divorce in February, about two months after she told police he threatened to kill her during an argument. He denied making such a threat, and prosecutors didn't charge him.

On Sept. 20, Puckett's attorney vigorously denied to the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Puckett sexually assaulted the woman.

Puckett's attorney, B. Todd Jones, said the allegations stemmed from Puckett 's "celebrity status, a nasty divorce, with all the subplots it involves and, in a crowded public venue, somebody deciding to raise these allegations," Jones was quoted in the Star Tribune last month. "He can't even go to the bathroom without something happening."

Derek Rettell, the restaurant's general manager, said none of his staff witnessed the alleged assault. Workers filed a police report, he said.

Puckett played in 10 All-Star games during his Twins career, which was cut short by glaucoma. He is currently the Twins' executive vice president for baseball


He finished with a .318 batting average, the best by a right-handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio, and Puckett's 2,040 hits are the most by any player in his first 10 seasons.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[jjgold]

It is sad how the true backrounds of these guys comes out when they stop playing sports. Most end up in jail, junkies or broke no matter who they are sad but true. I would not doubt it some day Mike Jordan ends up in Jail or broke from his gambling addiction.

Kirby, like the pre-Nicole OJ, was considered to be a great, warm, caring guy. In fact, he might have been the most beloved and respected guy in baseball when he was playing.

[HG]

I'll just try to keep the two Puckett's separated- the player and the abuser.

As a player he was one of the best ever- he kiled the Jays over and over again- he was the ONLY guy who seemed to have Henke's number. Man, what a player. As a person? SAD.

I cannot believe this. I never knew Kirby was like this. The street never leaves a person.

[you dirty rat]

As far as I know, Kirby Puckett has yet to be convicted of the crimes he's accused of committing. Without knowing any of the actual facts, raking the guy over the coals in this forum is out of line. If Puckett is indeed guilty, then we can rip him to shreds. Of course, this could be another incident where a celebrity is falsely accused by someone looking to score some $$$, a la the recent Bettis fiasco.

Let's hold off jumping to conclusions till we learn what actually happened.

Note to jjgold...."most end up in jail, junkies or broke"...what are you smoking? That statement has absolutely no basis in fact. Of course, there are a handful of former star athletes whose lives get completely screwed up, but they hardly represent the majority. Your comments regarding Jordan are just plain stupid. Moreover, reading between the lines, I'd offer the opinion that your views are borderline racist.

[if you only knew]

It is sad how the true backrounds of these guys comes out when they stop playing sports. Most end up in jail, junkies or broke no matter who they are sad but true. I would not doubt it some day Mike Jordan ends up in Jail or broke from his gambling addiction.



and im sure jj, you know these allegations to be true....right? were you there at the bar to see it?

Yes MJ will be broke...now that's FUNNY!!!

[Pancho Sanza]

Donald Trump nearly went broke.

It can happen.

Tongue Twister:

How many chicks could Kirby Puckett phuck in Phuket if Kirby Puckett went to Phuket to phuck chicks?

[Rookies]

Kirby, like the pre-Nicole OJ, was considered to be a great, warm, caring guy. In fact, he might have been the most beloved and respected guy in baseball when he was playing

He sure as hell was ! DAMN, that hurts !

Maybe, it's because I come from the Boomer generation and can remember when athletes carried themselves on and off the field. Yes, some had problems, but nothing like today. Those that don't know or care about their own sport- only ME,ME,ME !!!

I was almost going to post one of those: " Where have they gone: T. Gwynn & Kirby, Sweetness & Barry " threads in response to the modern day antics of the Randy Moss/ Terrell Owens athletes of today. Kirby was a treat to behold- on and off the field, handling his star quality with good will & grace.

I am very sorry that he fell off of Life's wagon. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

[B Taylor]

Well we now know Kirby is a breast man. I would have guessed he was an ass man. Well the Irony is he may be both

[ChuckyTheGoat]

This is NOT an indictment. But can someone refresh my memory? Wasn't Kirby accused of abusing his wife a few years back? Thx for any info.

[rockingham]

Puckett has been officially charged with this crime, so there is significant evidence. It is not just an allegation, so some anti - Puckett sentiment could be warranted here. Strictly waiting for the conviction, before criticizing him might be the way to go, but of course, he might have done the crime and still get out of it.

Chucky, you are right. This isn't the first time for Kirby. The man obviously has a problem with women and needs professional help.

Kirby did the "JIM BROWN" shuffle when the wife story came out.

[Louis Cypher]

Associated Press


MINNEAPOLIS -- Kirby Puckett, the baseball Hall of Famer and Minnesota Twins executive accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a restaurant last month, declared his innocence Monday after a brief appearance at the county jail.

"I just want to tell the fans I'm innocent of these charges," Puckett said as he left the Hennepin County Jail. "Let the process play its course. I know I'm innocent of these charges."

Puckett spent less than a half hour at the jail for a booking procedure and appearance before Hennepin County District Court Judge Gary Larson. The judge said Puckett could remain free on his own recognizance and set Nov. 19 for his next hearing.

"Hopefully no one rushes to judgment," Todd Jones, an attorney for Puckett, said as he accompanied Puckett to a Chevrolet Suburban waiting outside the jail.

County prosecutors on Friday charged Puckett, 41, with a felony count of false imprisonment and a gross misdemeanor count of criminal sexual conduct.

If convicted, Puckett would most likely be put on probation and given less than a year in the county workhouse, County Attorney Amy Klobuchar said last week.

Puckett is accused of pulling a woman into the men's restroom at the restaurant in a Minneapolis suburb Sept. 6, then groping her. The woman told police Puckett let her go after a friend of hers yelled into the restroom.

Puckett retired in 1995 after 12 seasons with the Twins, his career cut short by glaucoma that has left him blind in his right eye. He finished with a .318 batting average, the best career mark by a right-handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio.

Puckett was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year and now works for the Twins as an executive vice president.

During the brief appearance before Larson, Puckett was asked to spell his name and give his address. His attorneys asked if he could do that in private and Larson agreed.

Puckett will formally answer the charges in court later