John Wetteland is 'shocked' by sex abuse charges, lawyer says

DENTON, Texas (AP/FOX 5 NY) - John Wetteland, the former All-Star pitcher, is "completely shocked" and innocent of charges accusing him of child sex abuse, his attorney said.

Wetteland, 52, a former closer for the New York Yankees, attended an arraignment hearing in Denton County, Texas. Wetteland and his wife didn't speak to reporters.

After the hearing, his lawyer, Derek Adame, said the Texas Rangers Hall of Famer is staying strong in the face of the charges accusing him of sexually abusing a child for two years beginning in 2004 when the alleged victim was 4.

Bartonville police charged Wetteland in January with continuous sex abuse of a child.

A Texas grand jury indicted him in March on three counts of the same charge.

Wetteland is scheduled to return to court in July. Adame said he will plead not guilty.

Wetteland recorded 330 saves over a dozen seasons in the majors, including two with the Yankees. He was the MVP of the 1996 World Series in which the Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves. Wetteland saved each of the Yankees' four wins in that series.

With FOX 5 NY Staff