Assistant coach enters not guilty plea

By Tom Collins
Arizona Summer Wildcat
August 7, 1996

The UA assistant basketball coach accussed of smashing the window of a woman's truck at Tucson International Airport July 4 entered a plea of innocent yesterday in Pima County Justice Court.

Phillip L. Johnson, 38, did not appear in court, but the plea was entered on his behalf, according to a court clerk.

Johnson is charged with criminal tresspassing. Police were originally seeking charges of criminal damage, threats and intimidation, assault and false reporting to law enforcement against Johnson, but those charges were not evident in court records yesterday, according to another Justice Court clerk.

No other information was available about the case late yesterday.

In the July 4 incident, Johnson allegedly smashed the front window of the woman's truck, injuring her. After the incident, Johnson told police the woman had driven too close to him in an airport parking lot.

Neither Johnson nor prosecutors could be reached for comment.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. in Pima County Justice Court.

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