New Orleans Saints’ NFL Alvin Kamara and Cincinnati Bengals’ Chris Lammons plead not guilty in Las Vegas assault case

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and three other men pleaded not guilty Thursday in Nevada to beating a man unconscious at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub ahead of the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl.

Kamara appeared alongside Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chris Lammons and co-defendants Darrin Young and Percy Harris in state court.

They could be tried on July 31, according to the schedule set by the judge.

The four are each charged with a felony and misdemeanor for allegedly punching, kicking and stomping on Houston’s Darnell Greene Jr. during an altercation outside an elevator.

“Not guilty, your honor,” said Kamara, who played in the league’s All-Star Game the day after the alleged attack.

Kamara and three other men allegedly beat a man unconscious at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub ahead of the 2022 NFL Pro Bowl (pictured)

Police questioned him after the match and he was arrested on February 6, 2022, on suspicion of grievous bodily harm resulting in significant bodily harm. Lammons, Young and Harris were arrested days later.

The felony battery charge could result in one to five years in state prison. Conspiracy to commit assault carries a misdemeanor sentence of 364 days in county jail.

Kamara’s lawyers called the altercation Kamara’s self-defense and criticized prosecutors for taking the case to a grand jury, where testimony was taken and evidence presented behind closed doors.

In court on Thursday, attorney David Chesnoff said only that Kamara looked forward to his trial “and his full vindication”.

Lawyers representing Young and Harris declined to comment.

Lammons’ attorney Ross Goodman acknowledged that Lammons punched Greene, but called it a “measured response” to being pushed or shoved in the hallway of the nightclub.

The attorney said Lammons, 27, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., then tried to pull the other men away.

Fellow NFL player Chris Lammons also pleaded not guilty in court.

Greene was treated for a broken bone around one eye and reported neck, back, shoulder and knee injuries, according to New Orleans police and court documents.

“At no time during this attack did Greene hit, punch or push Kamara or any of his associates,” Las Vegas police said in an arrest report.

Police say the incident began when Kamara put his hand on Greene’s chest to prevent him from entering an elevator, Greene pushed the football player’s hand away, and a person with Kamara punched Greene.

In the police report, a detective said: “When asked why Kamara hit Greene, Kamara indicated that he thought Greene was running away and did something to his group, so he chased and hit Greene several times.”

New Orleans Saints running back Kamara at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas

Greene has an ongoing civil lawsuit against Kamara in a New Orleans court, seeking at least $10 million in damages.

“Mr. Greene was only trying to get into an elevator and was beaten nearly to death,” Greene’s Houston attorney, Tony Buzbee, said in an email Monday.

Buzbee said the civil lawsuit is on hold pending the outcome of the Las Vegas case.

Kamara, 27, is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He was named Rookie of the Year in 2017 and was selected for the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons. He finished the 2022 season with nearly 1,400 rushing and scrimmage passing yards and four touchdowns.

The Saints said Thursday the team is closely monitoring the Las Vegas case, but declined to comment further.

Lammons has been playing in the NFL since 2018 for the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. He was claimed off waivers in January by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.

League officials said the NFL would not comment until the matter was resolved.