Raiders’ corner facing trial
Raiders cornerback Sean Smith will be tried on felony charges of assault and battery stemming from a July 4 incident in Pasadena involving his sister’s former boyfriend, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ruled during a preliminary hearing Tuesday that there is sufficient evidence for Smith to stand trial, the Times reported. Smith attended the hearing but did not testify.
Smith pleaded not guilty to felony charges of assault by means of force to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury, according to the report. If convicted, Smith faces a maximum of seven years in prison.
Smith is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 3.
The Raiders were off Wednesday. A team spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Times reported that two witnesses at Tuesday’s hearing testified they saw Smith stomp the head of Christopher Woods while he lay unconscious in the Old Town area of Pasadena. Woods required a metal plate and screws inserted underneath his right eye and reconstructive surgery on his left eye socket, and also tore his left anterior cruciate ligament.
Woods also has filed a civil suit against Smith and the Raiders seeking unspecified damages.
Smith, 30, signed a four-year, $40 million contract with the Raiders before last season. He has appeared in 12 games this season with five starts.
Smith was arrested in connection with the incident Aug. 17. Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio told reporters that Smith “was defending his sister.”