By The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. - A man pleaded innocent Tuesday to misdemeanor charges of battery and assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly beaning Texas Rangers right fielder Carl Everett with a cell phone.

Juan Carlos Serrano, 24, of Union City, did not appear at his arraignment in Alameda County Court. His lawyer, Andrew Dosa, entered the plea on Serrano's behalf.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 19.

Serrano was arrested Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum during a game between the Rangers and Oakland Athletics on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. He was released on $15,000 bail.

Police said stadium security officers saw Serrano throw the cell phone that hit Everett in the back of the head.

Everett was not badly hurt, but was adamant the phone thrower be prosecuted.

Dosa said that he had just begun to review the police report, but questioned whether prosecutors could prove Serrano threw the phone deliberately to hit Everett.