Yahoo Sports Lenny Dykstra pleads not guilty to drug, terroristic threat charges in Uber incident
Lenny Dykstra was back in court Monday where his lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Dykstra, who won the 1986 World Series with the New York Mets, was indicted two weeks ago on two drug charges and one terroristic threat charge.
The charges date back to an incident with an Uber driver in New Jersey in May. The case is being handled by the Union County Superior Court in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Dykstra, a three-time All-Star with the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, is set to return to court Dec. 3.
Dykstra, lawyer talk briefly to reporters
Dykstra did not speak at the court hearing, instead allowing his new attorney, David S. Bahuriak, to enter the plea.
When the two left the courthouse followed by a group of reporters, they each had a few things to say according to the Bridgewater Courier News.
Dykstra said he is “a man of the people” and that they’ll let the process “handle itself and the truth will come out.”
Bahuriak added that the former player is a “big personality.”
“Anyone who knows him, knows that,” he said. “Lenny is a wild guy. Lenny is a man of the people, but Lenny’s not a bad guy, he’s not a violent guy and the evidence in this case is going to show that.”
Bahuriak said there are accusations that aren’t based in fact and the court hearing will clear those up.
“This has been an overblown incident from the very beginning,” Bahuriak said. “He is not guilty, he did not commit a crime and the evidence is going to show that.”
Dykstra arrested in May
Dykstra was arraigned on charges of cocaine possession, meth possession and terroristic threats.
He was arrested in May after allegedly threatening an Uber driver with a gun after changing his requested destination upon pick-up. According to the police report, he held a black pill bag with an object in it to the back of the driver’s head. The driver believed it to be a gun.
The driver drove to the police station, instead of to Dykstra’s requested destination, and filed charges. Police then found drugs on Dykstra, but no gun.
Dykstra alleges that he was kidnapped, that the driver was going to kill him and that he did not have a gun.
He could face up to 10 years in prison, according to the Courier News, in part because of prior convictions. He served time previously for grand theft auto and filing a false financial statement.
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