Bengals' Rey Maualuga pleads not guilty to assault charges

CINCINNATI - Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge.

The three-year veteran's attorney filed a written plea Friday in Hamilton County Municipal Court.

Sammy Laham, 27, a manager at Luxe bar and nightclub at 6h and Main streets in downtown Cincinnati told police that Maualuga punched him in the face on Sunday, Feb. 5.

Laham said members of his staff had asked Maualuga's group to leave because the bar was closing. According to Maham, the group remained at the bar so he went over. Moments later, according to Laham, someone said something then Maualuga took a few steps then punched him in the face.

Laham suffered a minor laceration to his face and redness to his left cheek below his eye, according to the police report.

Maualuga was charged with misdemeanor assault on Friday, Feb. 10.

It's Maualuga's second court case in two years. He pleaded guilty to drunken driving after police in northern Kentucky said he hit a parking meter and two parked cars in January 2010. The league suspended him for two games for violating its conduct policy.

As a repeat offender, he could be suspended by the NFL for part of next season.

Maualuga nor the Bengals have commented on the matter.