Posted on 05/01/2002 2:03:57 PM PDT by Pern
LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (AP) - An innocent plea was made on behalf of actress Tawney Kitaen on Monday, for alleged domestic violence injury to her husband, Cleveland Indians pitcher Chuck Finley.
Kitaen, 40, who appeared in the movies "Bachelor Party" and "California Girls" was not in court when her attorney, Blair Berk, made the innocent plea. Superior Court Judge Pamela Iles set a June 3 pretrial hearing on two misdemeanor charges, corporal injury on a spouse and battery.
Police who responded to the couple's Newport Beach home April 1 said they saw cuts and bruises on Finley, who formerly pitched for the Anaheim Angels.
Berk declined comment Monday on published reports that Kitaen had voluntarily checked into a 30-day rehabilitation treatment program last week, related to a growing addiction over two years to prescription medication for depression and migraines.
A maximum sentence upon conviction in the two charges would be one year in jail and $6,000 in fines.
Finley, 39, filed divorce papers in Orange County Superior Court on April 4 and obtained a temporary restraining order preventing Kitaen from seeing him. He also received temporary custody of their two daughters, ages 9 and 3.
Finley and Kitaen were married in November 1997. Previously Kitaen was married to David Coverdale, lead singer for the British heavy metal band Whitesnake.
In a sworn statement that accompanied the divorce filing, Finley said, "I am fearful that (Kitaen) .... will harm herself or will harm others, including me or including my children."
Kitaen said in her sworn response dated April 15 that her family is "the most important thing in my life and I live for my two daughters."
Finley missed his first scheduled start of the season against the Angels after he was allegedly kicked and hit by Kitaen. Since then he is 2-2 for the Indians.
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