Baltimore Ravens security chief pleads not guilty to groping
BALTIMORE - The security director for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens has pleaded not guilty to charges that he groped a stadium worker after a game.
Darren Sanders appeared in court in Baltimore on Thursday to enter the plea. Sanders is charged with second-degree assault and a fourth-degree sex offense. The case stems from allegations that he grabbed a woman's breasts and buttocks and kissed her without her permission while she escorted him to his car at the stadium in December.
The 48-year-old Sanders denies the allegations. The Ravens have placed Sanders on paid leave, reports CBS Baltimore.
An attorney for Sanders requested a jury trial, which has been scheduled for May 12.
According to the Baltimore Sun, Sanders played a key role in the controversy over whether the team had obtained or attempted to obtain footage of the assault involving Ray Rice and his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer. Sanders said he had asked Atlantic City, N.J., police and the Revel Casino for a copy of surveillance video of the assault, but that an official instead described the video to him, the newspaper reported.
Also, the Sun reported, Sanders said Rice told him that he had slapped Palmer, but denied punching her. Video later showed Rice punching Palmer, whom he has since married.