Frank Franklin II/AP
Lenny Dykstra took some swings at the prosecution during his indictment Monday.LOS ANGELES - Former Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra pleaded not guilty to bankruptcy fraud Monday and showed a little attitude.
Asked if he understood the charges in the federal indictment, the one-time All-Star got snarky.
"Understand them?" he asked the judge. "Uh...I don't understand it. But I understand it."
Dykstra, 48, was granted a public defender for the hearing after claiming financial hardship.
He's due back in court Aug. 9 and faces up to five years in jail if a jury finds him guilty of $400,000 in bankruptcy fraud.
The feds claim he stripped a $18.5 million mansion he bought from hockey star Wayne Gretzky of chandeliers, artwork, high-end furniture and granite shortly after filing for bankruptcy protection.
The 1986 World Series player appeared shackled at the waist in an orange jail uniform because a state judge tossed him into jail last week on an unrelated drug and car-theft case.
So far he hasn't raised the 10% cash needed to secure his $500,000 bail. That arraignment is set for Thursday.
County prosecutors claim Dykstra stole three cars and had cocaine, Ecstasy and a synthetic steroid when he was arrested in April.
He denies the 25 criminal charges, which carry a maximum of 12 years in jail.
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