Innocent plea

Man who attacked K.C. coach arraigned

CHICAGO (AP) -- The man who ran onto the field with his teenage son and attacked a Kansas City Royals coach during a game pleaded innocent Friday to three counts of aggravated battery and one felony count of mob action.

William Ligue Jr. has been jailed since the Sept. 19 attack on first-base coach Tom Gamboa on the field at Comiskey Park during a game between the Royals and the Chicago White Sox. He was arraigned in a brief hearing in Cook County Circuit Court.

Ligue's 15-year-old son has pleaded guilty in juvenile court to one charge of aggravated battery and two counts of mob action for striking Gamboa and an off-duty state trooper, who was working security at the game. The teen is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 7.

Ligue told the Daily Southtown newspaper in a story published Thursday that he has a drug problem and doesn't remember hitting Gamboa.

"I regret what happened," the 35-year-old Ligue said. "If I was in my right state of mind, this would never have occurred. I am so sorry for Mr. Gamboa. I disgraced Chicago and myself. I apologize with my heart."

A public defender was appointed to represent Ligue, who remains jailed on $200,000 bond and is scheduled back in court Nov. 7 for a hearing to reduce his bond.

 

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