San Diego

Two men accused of severely beating San Diego Charger Joe Phillips on Sept. 26 pleaded not guilty to felony assault charges Monday.

Brett J. Dost and Scott E. Stewart made their pleas before Municipal Judge Michael B. Orfield, who ordered the defendants taken into custody.

Citing the “senseless and brutal nature of this crime,” Orfield set bail for Dost at $30,000 because of his prior contacts with police, and he set bail for Stewart at $20,000.

Dost, 21, and Stewart, 24, face one felony charge each of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery intended to produce great bodily injury, and one misdemeanor charge of malicious mischief.

The two men--along with David Hanna, 22, who is free on $20,000 bail after pleading not guilty last week--are accused of beating 27-year-old Phillips outside a Mission Beach restaurant.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Mark Pettine said Phillips, a defensive lineman and five-year NFL veteran, was beaten so badly that a doctor could not tell how many fractures there were in Phillips’ face. The beating was “one of the worst he’s ever seen,” Pettine reported.

Phillips underwent surgery for some of his injuries. It is not known if he will be able to play again this season.

Witnesses told police after the attack that the assailants made a remark to a woman accompanying Phillips that led to a confrontation, which erupted into a brawl. Phillips reported to police that at least one of his attackers kicked him with steel-toed boots while he was on the ground.

Pettine said there is a “history of violence in Mr. Dost’s past,” and he is on probation in a drug case. The prosecutor told the judge that a man involved in another altercation with Dost suffered a broken jaw and other injuries.

Orfield set a preliminary hearing for Nov. 20, when the three cases are expected to be consolidated.