Kane Pleads Not Guilty

Cousins claim they didn't beat the cabbie.

Blackhawks star Patrick Kane says he didn't do it.

Kane and his cousin have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges that they beat up a cab driver over a fare.

Patrick and James Kane appeared before Buffalo judge Thomas Amodeo on Thursday, a day after a grand jury indicted them on misdemeanor assault and theft charges. The panel dismissed a more serious felony charge of second-degree robbery.

The Kanes were arrested Aug. 9 after cabbie Jan Radecki told police they attacked him when he said he didn't have 20 cents in change for the fare.  According to a police report, the Kanes gave Radecki $15 for a fare of $13.80. The driver gave them back a dollar, but not the remaining 20 cents. James Kane then allegedly tore the money from Radecki's hand and began punching him, the report said.The driver had bruises and broken glasses.

The judge adjourned the case until Aug. 27 and granted a defense request that the Kanes do not need to appear at that session. They're free without bail.

Sources close to the case say the Kanes will either plead guilty to a harassment or disorderly conduct charge – both minor offenses – or be granted an adjournment and have the charges dropped at a later date.

Kane made his first public statements about the case Monday.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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