A man charged with hitting Sacramento, Calif., mayor, and former NBA player, Kevin Johnson, in the face with a coconut cream pie plans to plead not guilty.
Defence attorney Claire White told The Sacramento Bee that Sean Thompson will contest a felony charge of assaulting a public official and a misdemeanor charge of battery on school property.
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He did not enter a plea at his arraignment Tuesday on charges of pushing the pie in Johnson’s face on Sept. 21.
Johnson then punched Thompson, who says he received nine stitches and a black eye.
Thompson was still sporting the bruise under his left eye Tuesday evening, as he attended a city council meeting chaired by Johnson.
Despite being under a restraining order to stay at least six metres from Johnson, Thompson spoke at the meeting.
“This arena has been your circus, it’s been a joke, you’ve been the ringleader, you’ve been lead clown,” Thompson said looking at the mayor. “That’s why I threw a pie at you.”
Thompson disagrees with the $255 million the city committed to help fund a new arena for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, which is over budget and has experienced several delays.
Thompson told The Atlantic that money should have been spent on schools, homelessness and other community projects.
“If he had put the energy into those things that he put into the arena, we would have so few problems left in the city,” he said.
The 32-year-old is hopeful his confrontation with Johnson will help deliver that message.
“I definitely did have his attention tonight, Thompson told KOVR. “It was about getting his attention so I could start speaking to him with his attention about the issues that need to be dealt with.”
Johnson refused to comment following the council meeting.
Thompson will be back in court on Oct. 20 for another arraignment.
Thompson’s attorney said a lawsuit against the mayor is being considered, but wouldn’t be filed immediately. White said her client experienced physical abuse following his pie protest.
— With files from The Associated Press
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