Nifong pleads not guilty to contempt charge

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Former prosecutor Mike Nifong pleaded not guilty today to criminal contempt charges stemming from his failure to turn over complete DNA test results during the discredited Duke lacrosse rape case.

Defense attorneys for the three falsely accused players asked a judge to punish Nifong.

They say he initially told the court he turned over all results when he knew genetic material from several men was found on and about the accuser, with none from any lacrosse player.

Nifong's attorney, Jim Glover, told Superior Court Judge W. Osmond Smith the Third the question is not if Nifong's statement's were literally true. Glover says the question is whether the statements willfully and intentionally false and whether they were part of an effort to hide evidence clearing the players.

Nifong could go to jail for 30 days and be fined $500 is he's convicted.