Mets’ Gooden Gets Probation in Battery Case

New York Mets pitching ace Dwight Gooden was placed on probation and ordered to perform community service with the Police Department after pleading no contest today to battery on a police officer and violently resisting arrest.

The charges grew out of a Dec. 13 confrontation with police after Gooden, 22, was stopped for an alleged traffic infraction and asked for his driver’s license.

He faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

“I’m happy with the way things worked out,” the 1985 National League Cy Young award winner said outside the courthouse, adding he now wants to “concentrate on baseball.”

Hillsborough Circuit Judge John Griffin gave Gooden three years probation and a minimum of 160 hours of community service. Three co-defendants were sentenced to two years probation.

Gooden’s attorneys had asked the judge to spare the pitcher from prison, noting he had no prior record. Defense attorney Ron Cacciatore said Gooden was repentant.

“What we’re trying to do we think is positive,” Cacciatore told Judge Griffin, calling the police scuffle “unfortunate. If we could turn back the hands of the clock so that this incident never occurred, we would. But that can’t be done.”

Gooden, a Tampa native who lives with his parents during off-season, was returning from a college basketball game with his friends when he was stopped by Tampa police.

Officers said Gooden got out of his car, used profane language and grabbed an officer’s wrist before violently resisting arrest when he was asked for his driver’s license.