Kennedy wife pleads not guilty

BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y. – The wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pleaded not guilty Thursday to a drunken-driving charge and will be evaluated to see if she needs treatment for alcohol abuse.

Mary Richardson Kennedy, 50, was arraigned in Bedford Town Court, near her home 45 miles north of New York City. Her husband, son of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, was not in court.

Mary Kennedy was arrested May 15 after a police officer reported seeing her drive her car over a curb outside a Bedford school. Police said she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.11 percent; the legal limit is 0.08 percent.

Kennedy had a dog in the car but no passengers. She was charged with driving while intoxicated.

Town Justice Kevin Quaranta suspended Kennedy’s license, released her without bail and ordered an assessment by a private agency.

Kennedy’s lawyer, Kerry Lawrence, said outside court that the assessment is “to determine if treatment is needed.”

Lawrence said the judge would receive a report from the agency at Kennedy’s next court appearance on July 15. He said he hoped the case would be resolved then.

The judge emphasized that he was treating Kennedy’s case “like any other case.” At the end of the session he said, “Ms. Kennedy, good luck to you.”

Robert Kennedy, a prominent environmental lawyer, did not return telephone calls to his White Plains office.