Perezhogin reaches plea deal
Jun 7, 2005 19:32:30 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2005 19:32:30 GMT -5
www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=127259
HAMILTON (CP) - Hamilton Bulldogs forward Alexander Perezhogin pleaded guilty Tuesday to assault causing bodily harm, resulting from a stick-swinging incident in an American Hockey League playoff game last year.
The plea bargain, which was being reviewed by a judge Tuesday, called for a conditional discharge with one year's probation. The deal also called for Perezhogin to pay $5,000 to charity and $2,500 to cover the medical expenses of Garrett Stafford.
The Cleveland Barons defenceman went into convulsions on the ice after being hit in the face by Perezhogin. He suffered a concussion and needed 20 stitches to repair the gash on his face.
"I am happy that this has come to a conclusion," Perezhogin told Hamilton's CH News outside court through an interpreter. "I am ready to start a new beginning in my life."
Perezhogin was charged on Aug. 26, 2004, the same day Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi pleaded not guilty in a Vancouver court to the same charge of assault causing bodily harm against Colorado rookie Steve Moore.
During the AHL game at Hamilton's Copps Coliseum on April 30, 2004, Stafford swung his stick at Perezhogin, catching him with a glancing blow on the back of the helmet.
Perezhogin retaliated with a two-handed, baseball-like swing to Stafford's face while the Cleveland player was on his knees.
Perezhogin, a native of Kazakhstan who was drafted in 2001 by the Montreal Canadiens, was suspended for the remainder of the playoffs and all of next season.
His lawyer, David Humphrey, said Perezhogin was simply reacting after being hit.
"This is entirely out of character for him," Humphrey told CH News. "He's never been involved in a hockey fight, he's never had a five-minute major penalty and the only reason he acted in that completely out of character fashion is because of the blow to the back of the head."
Stafford was also suspended for six games for his role in the incident.
"People make mistakes," Perezhogin's agent, Don Meehan, told CH News. "He's a good person. I'll think he'll recover from this."
The Canadiens said Tuesday they had not heard of the plea bargain.
Assault causing bodily harm carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, but such a sentence is considered reserved for the worst offender with a long criminal record.
HAMILTON (CP) - Hamilton Bulldogs forward Alexander Perezhogin pleaded guilty Tuesday to assault causing bodily harm, resulting from a stick-swinging incident in an American Hockey League playoff game last year.
The plea bargain, which was being reviewed by a judge Tuesday, called for a conditional discharge with one year's probation. The deal also called for Perezhogin to pay $5,000 to charity and $2,500 to cover the medical expenses of Garrett Stafford.
The Cleveland Barons defenceman went into convulsions on the ice after being hit in the face by Perezhogin. He suffered a concussion and needed 20 stitches to repair the gash on his face.
"I am happy that this has come to a conclusion," Perezhogin told Hamilton's CH News outside court through an interpreter. "I am ready to start a new beginning in my life."
Perezhogin was charged on Aug. 26, 2004, the same day Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi pleaded not guilty in a Vancouver court to the same charge of assault causing bodily harm against Colorado rookie Steve Moore.
During the AHL game at Hamilton's Copps Coliseum on April 30, 2004, Stafford swung his stick at Perezhogin, catching him with a glancing blow on the back of the helmet.
Perezhogin retaliated with a two-handed, baseball-like swing to Stafford's face while the Cleveland player was on his knees.
Perezhogin, a native of Kazakhstan who was drafted in 2001 by the Montreal Canadiens, was suspended for the remainder of the playoffs and all of next season.
His lawyer, David Humphrey, said Perezhogin was simply reacting after being hit.
"This is entirely out of character for him," Humphrey told CH News. "He's never been involved in a hockey fight, he's never had a five-minute major penalty and the only reason he acted in that completely out of character fashion is because of the blow to the back of the head."
Stafford was also suspended for six games for his role in the incident.
"People make mistakes," Perezhogin's agent, Don Meehan, told CH News. "He's a good person. I'll think he'll recover from this."
The Canadiens said Tuesday they had not heard of the plea bargain.
Assault causing bodily harm carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, but such a sentence is considered reserved for the worst offender with a long criminal record.
