I’m not sure how much widespread interest remains in this, but there’s no harm in posting it for those who might be interested… Craig Renetzky, the Woodland Hills-based attorney for former Kings assistant coach Mark Hardy, called to let me know that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., has filed a request to have the charge against Hardy — felony sexual abuse — reduced to a misdemeanor. A judge must approve the request, and if it is approved, the scheduled July 1 preliminary hearing will be removed from the calendar, replaced by a status conference.
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Thanks for the update. I hope for the best for Mark and his family.
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i think there’s interest rich. he’s part of the kings extended family so chalk me up to the list of people who would like you to keep us updated on this. thanks! that’s good news i guess for hardy….getting it reduced without pleading guilty….maybe that’s a sign of good things to come i guess. who knows though.
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thanks, still good to know
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Definitely still interest, thanks Rich, and continued thoughts to the Hardy family.
While watching the Draft’s “History on the Kings” feature this past weekend (including Bob’s call of the Miracle on Manchester) … I couldn’t help but feel the sadness of this news story again once I heard Hardy’s name being called (for the 4th goal and key assists on the 5th.)
Good news about the reduction, I just wished this had never happened.
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Thanks Rich for the update.
That it was the U.S. Atty’s office filing the reduction from felony to misdemeanor is significant for Hardy…and the case. It would be a surprise if the judge turned down the request since it comes from the prosecutor in this case, not Hardy’s lawyer.
May all involved learn & heal from this ordeal.
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Thanks Rich, It’s a bad situation that Mark and his family are going through. I wish him and his family all the best. Thanks for the update.
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I’m sure like myself, we all still love Harpo and are concerned for him. And I think because of that, the best thing we can all do, is to give him and his family some privacy, for a private family matter.
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We should pikc up Patrick O Sullivan off of waivers.
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deadcatbounce Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
@brandyn, But why should the Kings pick up O’Sullivan? Yes, I know he’s still young and that should have been a positive for Edmonton, but I can’t help think that his reputation as a coach-killer in juniors wasn’t too far off base. The apple may not have fallen very far from the tree in this instance…
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King Doughnuts Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
@brandyn, The same POS that said he was glad to be out of L.A. and in a real hockey town?
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brandyn Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
@King Doughnuts,
well I was just thinking for depth. he’s a waiver pick up, very cheap. He proved he could score 20 goals. His attitude should change now that we are developing a hockey culture here.
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quisp Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
@brandyn,
he’s not very cheap. he costs $3MM.
Dan H. Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
@brandyn,
He had a chance to MAKE a diference in the culture here with the rest of the core that’s doing it and he didnt pick up the bit.
Now that he ran his mouth up there…I hope he finds a nice spot in the local beer league lineup.
Marc Nathan Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
@brandyn, As a big Patrick O’Sullivan supporter, I can only say that management should consider asking Captain Brown and Assistant Kopitar what THEY think…
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
@brandyn,
Posted something about this on a later link:
http://lakingsinsider.com/2010/06/29/its-getting-drafty/#comment-126636
I think POS has burned his bridges with the Kings, but I think he will be picked up by someone else and get another real chance at the NHL. May he be ready to play this time…
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USHA#17 Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
@brandyn,
Not really knowing Mr. O’Sullivan I must say that after seeing him here in LA about I he left me with the impression that the one thing O’Sullivan is good for is Patrick O’Sullivan.
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Steve S. Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Keep Patty O’ in the rear view mirror…
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hockey jockey Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
@brandyn, he was a favorite player of mine as I always saw him making an effort.. I did not
have access to alot of outside info a few years back so do not know of all this negativity the
others are saying he was about.
I do know he came from a terrible homelife and
sure had a lot to overcome. Did he not get along with the other players? I never heard that. I knew he had the salary issue and missed the beginnig of training camp and never did get on the coaches good side from then on. But what about as a teamate? Did he really badmouth the Kings?
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[...] For more, check out Hardy Update. [...]
Great news Rich. Thanks
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USHA#17 Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
@Otto Ped,
Great News???
Great News would be it was a case of mistaken identity, nothing happened and he didn’t have a drinking problem.
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USHA#17 Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
@Otto Ped,
Great News? Hardly. Great News would be cleared of all charges due to mistaken identity and no drinking problem.
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Isn’t there some way we can blame this whole Hardy situation on Frolov?
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Dominick Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
@Jammers, At least Frolov played well while he was here.If your going to pick a scapegoat,I nominate Jeremy Roenick.
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POS would be one motivated player if the Kings brought him back…I just don’t see where he fits in on the team now?
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Wishing the best for the Hardy Family. Its just such a wierd story that I hope everyone involved can put this behind them to a point that they have normal lives.
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We’re all wishing the best for the Hardy family. The whole incident was a tragedy; hopefully something positive will come out of all of this for both parties. This was most unfortunate, a real tragedy for all involved.
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Thanks Rich.
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Guess someone cut a deal, lets hope he learns and gets some help.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
June 29th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
@pr0cess,
I may not be correct, but there may not have been a deal cut. His daughter may be refusing to prosecute or blame her Dad after thinking about it for a bit. Remember, I believe it was said they were both drunk. If the prosecutor cannot get the victim to cooperate fully, they may feel they don’t have a strong enough case for the felony conviction.
Of course, there is a multitude of reasons for why the prosecutor reduced the charge, and because of the nature of the case, the public will never know as all parties would want to put the situation in the past and work on repair, if it is possible.
There is no excuse good enough to explain away what he alledgedly did, and alcohol rehab may be a start to discover what happened and how to avoid it recurring. It’s not going to solve why it happened tho, and Mark and his daughter will be the only ones able to answer that one, if they so choose.
All in all, it is much more complicated than just being heavily drunk or sexual abuse or whatever tag anyone can put on it. What it is simply is a shame, and the entire family has had their lives changed, including the Kings family.
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After he resigned, we – http://www.lakingsnews.com – no longer considered it LA Kings news and therefore stopped reporting on it. With that said, I concur with nearly all concerned that we do wish he and his family the best. It is hard to imagine the range of emotions and private hell the incident has caused.
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Thanks for the update. Very interested and wish for the best for Hardy.
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yes Rich thank you for all the updates..
so conflicted here..
He was a great King and I know how much he put into
coaching our team ..it is such a shame on so many levels.
Keep hoping for some decent outcome .. do not know how but.. anyway..
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Thank you Rich, for the update. He is always in my prayers.
For the people that said, him resigning was a sign of guilt and should be thrown to the wolves, I guess it wasnt as bad as it first lay claim to be.
Good luck Mark, and get better. You will be missed!
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