SuperSonics' Patterson Charged

CLEVELAND (AP) â€” Ruben Patterson of the Seattle SuperSonics was charged with assault, accused of breaking a man's jaw outside a nightclub because he scratched the player's car. <br><br>A grand

Wednesday, September 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CLEVELAND (AP) â€” Ruben Patterson of the Seattle SuperSonics was charged with assault, accused of breaking a man's jaw outside a nightclub because he scratched the player's car.

A grand jury also indicted Melvin Scott on Tuesday. The felonious assault charge each man faces carries a sentence of two to eight years in prison.

Kevin Lewis told police that Patterson, a 6-foot-5 forward from Cleveland, was among a group of men who attacked him June 11 in the city's entertainment district. Lewis said the men thought he scratched Patterson's car.

Scott, a friend of the player, said he was outside the club but denied any role in the assault.

``I walked away,'' Scott said. ``I saw the guy by Ruben's car. Ruben was hot. He went for the guy and I tried to hold him back. But (Ruben) pushed me out of the way.''

A message was left early Wednesday with the SuperSonics. There was no phone listing for Patterson's lawyer, Dan Fagan of Los Angeles.