Coleman in Court, but Arraignment Is Postponed Until Oct. 8

Vince Coleman’s arraignment on a felony charge of possessing an explosive device was postponed Wednesday until Oct. 8--five days after the end of baseball’s regular season--at the request of his attorneys.

Abraham Khan, Los Angeles County municipal court commissioner, agreed to the delay because attorneys for the New York Mets’ outfielder are awaiting updated reports on the condition of three fans injured on July 24 when Coleman allegedly lit the device in the Dodger Stadium players’ parking lot.

“The injuries are an important consideration when it comes to sentencing,” said Bob Shapiro, Coleman’s lead attorney. “(The injured fans) do not yet have status reports.”

Among those injured was Amanda Santos, 2, who sustained second-degree burns under her eye and a lacerated cornea.

Last week, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office charged Coleman with a felony because the explosion caused injury.

Authorities said the explosive device was similar to an M-100, equivalent to more than a quarter stick of dynamite.

Shapiro said Coleman will not contest the charge.

Coleman, on unpaid leave from the Mets, could face a sentence ranging from probation to three years in prison.

He is forfeiting more than $14,000 for each missed game.

It is uncertain whether Coleman will return to the Mets. The club said a decision has yet to be made.

“He is going back to New York in the next day or two,” Shapiro said. “He would like to get back to his career.”

Coleman, 31, surrendered to Los Angeles County authorities late Tuesday. He was booked and released on $5,000 bail.

With his attorneys at his side, Coleman entered the courtroom shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday. He sat in the front row for about five minutes, discreetly signing autographs, before his case was called. He then waived his right to a speedy trial.

A few minutes later, Coleman was escorted out of the courtroom, past the media, to an elevator occupied by a half-dozen Los Angeles County marshals.

The elevator was delayed as Coleman signed autographs for several of the marshals.

Coleman was then led to an area in front of the Criminal Courts building, where he stood quietly while Shapiro answered questions for about 10 minutes.

“This was clearly a dumb, stupid, foolish, childlike act, but make no mistake, this was an accident,” said Shapiro, adding that Coleman should be considered for probation.

Shapiro said the device Coleman ignited was a powerful firecracker available on the black market. He declined to say how Coleman obtained the device.

Later in the day, Coleman told Channel 2 sportscaster Jim Hill that he “just wasn’t thinking” when he lit the device.

Coleman added: “It was something that started out as a joke. But it was a silly, foolish joke.

“I feel very bad for the pain that I’ve caused. . . . I just want to show baseball, the families (of the injured fans) and Los Angeles that I’m very, very sorry.”

Coleman said he wasn’t aware of the injuries until four days after the incident, when he heard that the family of Amanda Santos had called a news conference to announce plans to sue him.

A day later, he made his first public apology, though he never used the words, “I’m sorry.”

Without mentioning Coleman by name, the Los Angeles City Council voted, 13-0, Wednesday to “go on record as condemning the reckless behavior which occurred at Dodger Stadium on July 24.”

The council told the Public Safety Committee to report back to the council on the details of the incident after a final legal resolution.

Councilman Richard Alarcon, a former semi-pro baseball player who introduced the motion, said: “As someone who loves the game, I was very disappointed in baseball. It seemed that as a group they closed ranks and decided not to say anything.”

Times staff writer Marc Lacey contributed to this report.