More than 20 years after helping the San Francisco Giants get to the World Series, former slugger Kevin Mitchell is back in the news for his off-the-field behavoir.
In July Mitchell was arrested in San Diego on suspicion of misdemeanor battery after allegedly attacking someone at a golf course. That case is in court this week for a preliminary hearing.
Mitchell played for the Giants from 1987-1991. He was a key player in the 1989 World Series team and won the MVP award that year. A San Diego native, Mitchell has had more than one run-in with the law. In 1999, Mitchell was arrested by San Diego police after a fight at his grandmother’s Southcrest home. Mitchell was charged with felony battery after police said the baseball player struck his father in the head, cutting him.
Now to the current case.
Mitchell told a golfing buddy, “I want to show you who I am motherf--ker. I’m an old school gangster” before he started throwing punches at a San Diego area golf course according to testimony Wednesday in a Chula Vista courtroom.
During the preliminary hearing Wednesday, Leonard Lerma testified that Mitchell confronted him on the 13th hole of the Bonita Golf Club on July 21 over a disagreement.
He told the court Mitchell mentioned he had a gun in his golf bag and wasn't afraid to use it.
Sports
Lerma also described a fight in which Mitchell slapped him on the cheek, punched him on the cheek and punched him in the forehead.
According to Lerma, a disagreement between the two former golfing buddies started a week before Mitchell's arrest when the two men were sitting with other golfers on an outdoor patio at the Bonita Golf course.
Lerma and Mitchell had taken lessons from the same golfing instructor when later that day, Lerma complained to another man how the golf lesson resulted in his poor play.
Mitchell overheard the discussion and asked why Lerma was badmouthing the instructor. Lerma testified that the two men argued but the argument didn’t escalate that day. It wasn’t until a week later, that Lerma said he was golfing on the 13th hole when he saw Mitchell drive his golf cart toward him with a very firm look on his face.
Lerma testified that Mitchell said “If you want to know anything about me, ask me to my face and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.” Then the former major leaguer got out of his golf cart and said, “I want to show you who I am motherf--ker. I’m an old school gangster,” Lerma testified.
A witness to the fight testified that he didn’t see the victim swing or punch Mitchell but when questioned by the defense attorney, the witness agreed that he didn’t see the entire incident.
It wasn't until another golfer intervened that Lerma said he was able to get away and call 911.
The defense attorney asked if Lerma had heard rumors around the golf course that claimed Lerma could have Mitchell “done in.” The victim testified that he would never say something like that.
The judge ruled that there was enough evidence that Mitchell threw punches causing a concussion and ordered the case to trial.
Mitchell entered a not guilty plea at the hearing through his attorney. Trial was set for Nov. 3 Mitchell will remain free on bond.
Mitchell's defense attorney also brought up a civil lawsuit filed by Lerma asking for more than $750,000 in damages.
If convicted, Mitchell could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
