Baseball Hall of Famer Puckett charged in alleged sexual assault

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett was charged Friday with dragging a woman into a restaurant bathroom last month and fondling her. <br><br>The woman had bruises, and her ankle was

Friday, October 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett was charged Friday with dragging a woman into a restaurant bathroom last month and fondling her.

The woman had bruises, and her ankle was swollen from hitting a door frame, according to the criminal complaint, which cited several witnesses.

The former Minnesota Twins star was charged with a felony count of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of criminal sexual conduct. He could face four years in prison and an $8,000 fine.

County Attorney Amy Klobuchar said Puckett is more likely to face workhouse time and probation.

Puckett's attorney, B. Todd Jones, and Twins spokesman Dave St. Peter did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Puckett is expected to surrender and post $20,000 bail Monday, Klobuchar said. His first court appearance probably will be in two or three weeks.

Puckett, an outfielder, retired in 1995 after 12 seasons with the Twins, a team he helped win the World Series in 1987 and 1991. He joined the Hall of Fame last year.

``Like most Minnesotans, I remember watching Mr. Puckett help the Twins win two World Series, and he's a great Hall of Fame baseball player. But that night, in that bar, he was no one's hero,'' Klobuchar said.

Puckett's wife, Tonya, filed for divorce in February, about two months after she told police he threatened to kill her during an argument. He denied making such a threat, and prosecutors didn't charge him. The Pucketts reached a tentative settlement this month.

Puckett played in 10 All-Star games during his Twins career, which was cut short by glaucoma.

He finished with a .318 lifetime batting average, the best by a right-handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio. His 2,040 hits are the most by any player in his first 10 seasons.