FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers won't face possible jail time for knocking down a cameraman during a videotaped tirade last year if he completes an anger management class, prosecutors said.
Rogers made the agreement Friday while appearing before Tarrant County Criminal Court Judge Brent Carr, Assistant District Attorney Mark Thielman said.
Rogers, then with the Texas Rangers, was charged with a Class A misdemeanor after videotape of the June 29 incident showed him walking onto Ameriquest Field in Arlington for pregame stretching and pushing a television camera to the ground.
He then kicked the camera and threatened to do more damage. Larry Rodriguez, who works for Dallas-Fort Worth television station KDFW, was hospitalized after falling down when Rogers grabbed his camera.
Thielman said Rogers has four months to complete the class, which must be approved by the court.
In exchange, prosecutors will reduce the charge to a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a maximum fine of $500.
Rogers was suspended for 20 games for the incident, a penalty the players' association appealed and was reduced to 13 games by an arbitrator.
He signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Tigers during the offseason
Rogers made the agreement Friday while appearing before Tarrant County Criminal Court Judge Brent Carr, Assistant District Attorney Mark Thielman said.
Rogers, then with the Texas Rangers, was charged with a Class A misdemeanor after videotape of the June 29 incident showed him walking onto Ameriquest Field in Arlington for pregame stretching and pushing a television camera to the ground.
He then kicked the camera and threatened to do more damage. Larry Rodriguez, who works for Dallas-Fort Worth television station KDFW, was hospitalized after falling down when Rogers grabbed his camera.
Thielman said Rogers has four months to complete the class, which must be approved by the court.
In exchange, prosecutors will reduce the charge to a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a maximum fine of $500.
Rogers was suspended for 20 games for the incident, a penalty the players' association appealed and was reduced to 13 games by an arbitrator.
He signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Tigers during the offseason
