Suns' Morris twins plead not guilty to felony assault charges

The Morris twins have begun the process of trying to clear their names.

Phoenix Suns forwards Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris entered pleas of not guilty to two felony aggravated assault charges on Thursday.

The brothers are being charged as a result of a Jan. 24 incident at a recreation center, during which the brothers were allegedly part of a five-person group that beat a man unconscious for sending inappropriate text messages to their mother.

An indictment was filed by the Grand Jury on April 29, with the Maricopa County public record showing each brother charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault.

The 25-year-old twins have denied the encounter, which is alleged to have included three other men joining the Morrises in beating up Erik Hood. Hood claims he was a mentor and financial support to the brothers in high school and that they mistook supportive text messages to Thomasine Morris to suggest a sexual relationship rather than a friendship.

As a result, Hood alleges that the brothers and three others, including recent Baltimore Ravens signing Gerald Bowman, knocked him to the ground and then punched and kicked him - events witnessed by a 27-year-old woman.

Pretrial conferences have been scheduled for June 11 and June 23 but the brothers are not due back in court until June 30. A felony aggravated assault conviction in the state of Arizona carries a minimum prison sentence of 18 months as well as resultant fines.

The Suns signed both brothers to sizable extensions this fall, locking each up for the next four seasons at a combined total of $51.7 million.