RICHMOND, Va. -- NFL holdout and minor-league baseball player Deion Sanders faced a Monday court appearance on two assault charges after going into the stands to confront hecklers, his second legal run-in this year.
Sanders, known by nicknames 'Prime Time' and 'Neon,' was freed on $5,000 bond Sunday after two Richmond men filed assault complaints.
Security officials with the Triple A Richmond Braves said Sanders, after being pulled from the Columbus Clippers game in the ninth inning, quickly changed clothes in the clubhouse and went to a concourse to confront the hecklers.
'Apparently there were punches thrown and an usher was hit,' said George Taylor, security director.
Clippers manager Bucky Dent said Sanders will be fined or suspended.
'First of all, he's not supposed to leave the clubhouse until the game is over,' Dent said. 'That's an automatic fine right there. You just don't go into the stands.'
In the Clippers' 16-4 loss Sunday, Sanders went hitless in four trips to the plate.
While considered the best cornerback available in the NFL draft - the Atlanta Falcons made him the fifth player tapped in the draft -- he is batting .150 for the Clippers. He's yet to reach terms with the Falcons.
The two-time All-America at Florida State University was arrested last Christmas Eve during an incident at a Fort Myers, Fla., gift shop and was eventually convicted of two battery charges and one charge of disorderly conduct. He was fined $800 and sentenced to six months probation.
