Priest pleads not guilty to endangering boy, 8, with musket
HACKENSACK, N.J. (AP) - -- A New Jersey priest accused of pointing a functioning musket at an 8-year-old boy in a church's rectory as part of a football rivalry has pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and aggravated assault charges.
The Rev. Kevin Carter entered his plea Tuesday during a brief hearing in Hackensack.
The charges stem from a Sept. 13 incident at St. Margaret of Cortona Roman Catholic Church in Little Ferry.
Carter, an avid New York Giants fan, claims it was joke that was misinterpreted.
He and the boy, who roots for the Dallas Cowboys, were talking about football shortly before the incident occurred. The NFL teams were scheduled to play that night.
Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli has said he doesn't consider pointing a gun at someone to be a joke.
