Mark Hardy faces lower charge; trial date set

The fourth-degree felony sexual-abuse charge against former Kings assistant coach Mark Hardy was reduced to a misdemeanor, and a date of Oct. 12 was set for a non-jury trial, his attorney, Craig Renetzky, said.

Hardy was charged after a complaint filed by a family member on May 21. He entered a rehabilitation facility shortly afterward.

He was arraigned in District of Columbia Superior Court, which had received and granted a motion to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor. The maximum punishment is no more than 180 days in jail.

Renetzky says Hardy, who resigned from the Kings’ staff June 12, is free on his own recognizance and is now allowed to talk to the victim. It is The Times’ policy not to name abuse victims.

Renetzky also said a plea-bargain offer was made, but Hardy rejected it.

“At this point, Mr. Hardy is looking forward to the trial,” Renetzky said, “and hopefully he will be cleared.”

—Helene Elliott

PRO FOOTBALL

Vick: No role in shooting

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick says he was not involved in a shooting following his birthday celebration in Virginia Beach, Va., last week.

“I want to assure everyone that I had nothing to do with that incident,” he said in the statement provided to the Associated Press by his representatives Thursday night. “I left the restaurant prior to it occurring and did not witness what happened.”

Vick said he reported the incident to the Eagles and “to representatives of Commissioner Roger Goodell.”

Police said earlier Thursday that they have not ruled out Vick as a suspect or person of interest in their investigation.

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The NFL suspended free-agent running back LenDale White for four games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy and free-agent defensive tackle Hollis Thomas for eight games for violating its performance-enhancing substances policy.

League spokesman Randall Liu confirmed the suspensions in an e-mail to the Associated Press.

White has acknowledged smoking marijuana. He was abruptly cut by Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll, his coach at USC, weeks after the team traded for him.

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New York police who stopped Tennessee Titans backup quarterback Chris Simms on Thursday as he was driving say he told them he’d been smoking marijuana, but he says he was just talking about cigarettes.

Simms, a son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, called the case against him “very weak” as he left a Manhattan courthouse after his arraignment on charges of driving while impaired by drugs.

“I think it speaks for itself,” Simms, 29, said as he walked to a waiting car. Released without bail, he’s due back in court Aug. 23 on the misdemeanor and traffic-violation charges.

ETC.

Choi (64) takes one-stroke lead

Na Yeon Choi shot a career-best seven-under-par 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Canadian Alena Sharp in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic at Sylvania, Ohio.

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Katie Cochran singled in two runs in a four-run first inning and the United States went on to beat Japan, 4-0, and clinch a spot in the final of the softball world championships at Caracas, Venezuela.

The United States will try to make it seven consecutive world titles Friday.

The U.S. will play Japan, Canada or China for the championship.