SIMI VALLEY : Laker Player Pleads Not Guilty to Charges

Laker forward Elden Campbell pleaded not guilty Friday to misdemeanor drunk-driving charges stemming from a single-car accident last month in Simi Valley.

An Aug. 28 jury trial was scheduled for Campbell, 27, who did not appear in court for the brief hearing. His plea was entered by defense attorney George Eskin.

Campbell was arrested July 7 after his car flipped while traveling eastbound on California 118 at 75 m.p.h., authorities said. Campbell was not injured in the accident, and his cousin, who was a passenger in the vehicle, received only minor injures and did not require medical treatment, Eskin said.

California Highway Patrol officials said at the time that Campbell, a Torrance resident, refused to take a breath test after the accident. However, Eskin said a preliminary screening of Campbell at the scene indicated a blood-alcohol level of 0.12%.

Under state law, a person is presumed to be intoxicated with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.08% or higher.

After his arrest, Campbell was released on his own recognizance. Municipal Court Judge John R. Smiley added a condition that Campbell not drive with any alcohol in his system.

The district attorney’s office initially reviewed the case as a felony, but prosecutors decided to file the charges as misdemeanors.

“No special treatment was involved,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard E. Holmes said. “The nature of the injuries was not of a felony level.”

Eskin said he wants the trial to get under way as soon as possible so it will not interfere with the basketball season, if there is one.