Raider Tackle Perry, Free on Bail, Pleads Not Guilty to Firearm Charge

Raider offensive left tackle Gerald Perry pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner. Perry was arrested on Nov. 12 for allegedly firing two shots from a car. No one was hurt in the incident.

Perry remains free on bail, set at $15,000, pending a preliminary hearing Feb. 3. The Raider lineman allegedly fired the shots from the right rear passenger side of a vehicle in the early morning hours of his 30th birthday.

According to investigators, the action, which took place on La Brea Ave., climaxed a birthday celebration. Two unidentified teammates who were with Perry at the time were not charged in the incident.

Perry would not elaborate further on the incident.

“I’m just going to have to let it run its course and see what happens.” he said. “They pay me to play football here.”

The Feb. 3 hearing date will allow Perry to finish the season, even if the Raiders make the Super Bowl Jan. 29.

Perry, 30, has been arrested 10 times for assorted incidents ranging from soliciting a prostitute to sexual assault. He was convicted twice in Colorado, serving nine days in jail in 1989 and 65 days in 1991 for sexual assault and violation of probation.

Coach Art Shell said he did not believe Perry’s legal problems would be a distraction.