LOS ANGELES – Former New York Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra is seeking to withdraw his no-contest plea in Los Angeles on charges of auto theft and providing a false financial statement, officials said Wednesday.
Jane Robison, a district attorney spokeswoman, said her office was notified that the ex-baseball star has filed a motion to withdraw his plea. Dykstra is scheduled to be sentenced Monday, facing up to four years in prison as part of a plea deal.
A phone message seeking comment from defense attorney Andrew Flier was not immediately returned.
Dykstra and two co-defendants are accused of trying to lease and then sell high-end cars from several car dealerships in January by claiming credit through a phony business.
Dykstra initially pleaded not guilty to 25 counts after police arrested him and found cocaine, Ecstasy and synthetic human growth hormone at his Los Angeles home. He changed his plea in October to no contest and in exchange prosecutors dropped 21 counts.
The former major leaguer has had a series of legal problems over the past year. Dykstra also faces federal bankruptcy charges and is scheduled to stand trial this summer. He also has pleaded not guilty to indecent exposure charges for allegedly exposing himself to women he met on Craigslist.
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