Artest Pleads Not Guilty To Misdemeanor Charges

AUBURN, Calif. (AP) Ron Artest pleaded not guilty Thursday to misdemeanor charges stemming from a domestic dispute with his wife earlier this month.<br/><br/>A Placer County Superior Court judge also ordered

Thursday, March 22nd 2007, 9:38 am

By: News On 6

AUBURN, Calif. (AP) Ron Artest pleaded not guilty Thursday to misdemeanor charges stemming from a domestic dispute with his wife earlier this month.

A Placer County Superior Court judge also ordered the Sacramento Kings forward to stay at least 100 yards away from his wife and children until further notice.

Artest's attorney, William Portanova, entered pleas of not guilty to charges of battery and corporal injury to a spouse, false imprisonment and dissuading a witness from reporting a crime.

Artest only spoke when asked direct questions by Judge Francis Kearney. He said no when asked if he owned firearms and yes when asked if he understood the conditions of the restraining order.

Portanova and attorneys for Artest's wife, Kimsha, mutually agreed to the restraining order.

"We all decided that was the right thing to do for the family," Portanova said. "That is the right thing for now."

The judge ordered Artest back to court for another appearance on
April 5.