Former Oakland Raider Pleads Not Guilty To Murdering Man In Lancaster

LANCASTER (AP)  — Former Oakland Raider Anthony Wayne Smith has pleaded not guilty to murder in the 2008 beating and shooting death of a man in northern Los Angeles County.

The 43-year-old Smith, who played defensive end for the Raiders in Los Angeles and Oakland from 1991 to 1998, entered the plea Tuesday.

He is one of three men charged in the killing of 31-year-old Maurilio Ponce, who was beaten and shot several times in Lancaster before his body was dumped near a poppy field.

Two defendants who are facing the same charge -- 41-year-old Charles Eric Honest and 32-year-old Dewann Wesley White -- also pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

All three are due to appear at a May 19 preliminary hearing.

Smith was ordered held on $1 million bail.

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