Lawrence Phillips is in Court Again

Former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips has made it a habit of visiting court houses. And he visited one yesterday in San Diego county. And of course he pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Former football star Lawrence Lamont Phillips pleaded not guilty in San Diego Superior Court yesterday to eight felony charges stemming from a series of 2005 incidents in which prosecutors said he attacked his girlfriend and stole her car.

Phillips on Aug. 2, 2005, repeatedly choked his girlfriend to the point that she lost consciousness and was bleeding, Deputy District Attorney Nicole Cooper said in court.

Two weeks later, Phillips again choked the woman and threatened her, saying he should have killed her, Cooper said.

There will be a hearing on April 24 to see what the evidence is sufficient enough to go forward with a trial.

Before Phillips goes back to court, lets take a look at his rap sheet.

- In 1996, Phillips found Kate McEwen and assaulted her by dragging her down a stairwell by her hair and by her shirt. He was suspended by the Nebraska football team.

- In 1997, the St. Louis Rams released Phillips after he got in a dispute with the team over playing time.

- 1997, Phillips pleaded no contest to assaulting a woman in a nightclub.

- On August 21, 2005, Phillips was arrested for assault after allegedly driving a car into three teenagers, following a dispute with the teens during a pick-up football game in Los Angeles, California. At the time of the arrest, Phillips was wanted by the San Diego, California, police in connection with two alleged domestic abuse incidents involving a former girlfriend, who claimed that Phillips choked her to the point of unconsciousness during one of the incidents. In addition, the Los Angeles Police Department was seeking Phillips in connection with yet another, separate domestic abuse allegation that had occurred previously in Los Angeles.

- In March, 2006, the Associated Press reported that Phillips had been ordered to stand trial on felony assault with a deadly weapon charges stemming from the August 21, 2005, incident. The assigned judge dismissed two counts of child abuse and one count of leaving the scene of an accident, but continued the trial on the more serious charges.

- On October 10, 2006, Phillips was found guilty of seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

- On October 3, 2008, Phillips was sentenced to 10 years in a California state prison.

He will always be remembered by 49ers fans for his missed block. While playing for the 49ers in 1999, Phillips missed a block on Aeneas Williams who would proceed to knock out quarterback Steve Young. Young received another concussion from the blow, and would eventually be forced to retire.

Phillips can rot in jail for all I am concerned.

Embattled ex-football star Phillips pleads not guilty (San Diego Union-Tribune)