Prosecutor Doubts Larkin Targeted

A woman who allegedly made a Molotov cocktail and said she would toss it at Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was indicted Tuesday in Cincinnati on a charge of possessing a dangerous ordnance.

Hamilton (Ohio) County prosecutor Joe Deters said, however, that his office could find no evidence that the Cincinnati woman, Larina Lewis, 26, made any direct threats to Larkin or actually planned to hurt him or his family.

“His name was bantered around by her,” Deters said.

But, he said: “It’s important to note that we do not have any evidence that she directly threatened the Larkin family.”

Deters said if such evidence surfaced it would be presented to a grand jury.

Deters said the woman reportedly told neighbors July 1 that she had made a Molotov cocktail - a bottle filled with gasoline and stuffed with a rag for a wick - and asked for directions to Larkin’s home.

Hobson arraignment delayed

Former Boston Red Sox manager Butch Hobson’s arraignment on a charge of cocaine possession has been delayed to give lawyers more time to prepare, the attorney general’s office said in Providence, R.I.

Hobson was arrested May 4 in a Pawtucket motel after agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration said they found 2.6 grams of cocaine worth about $120 in Hobson’s shaving kit. Through his lawyer, Stephen Famiglietti, Hobson has denied any wrongdoing.

Hobson was scheduled to be arraigned today in Providence County Superior Court, but the hearing has been rescheduled for July 25, said Christopher Shaban, spokesman for attorney general Jeff Pine.

Famiglietti said the case could be resolved before the new hearing date.

If convicted, Hobson faces up to three years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Hobson, 44, of Fairhope, Ala., was arrested after a secretary, who was not identified, was to mail an overnight letter from Jerry Poe, a high school teammate of Hobson’s from Hueytown, Ala., to Hobson, according to a DEA affidavit filed for a search warrant.

Before she could mail the letter, she spilled coffee on the envelope, opened it to check the contents and found a plastic bag containing white powder that was tested and confirmed to be cocaine.

After the arrest, lawyer Susan Carlin said Hobson chose to hide the drug rather than call police because “he didn’t have any time to decide how to handle the situation.”

Carreon dealt to Cleveland

Seeking right-handed help off the bench and insurance for the injured Julio Franco at first base, Cleveland acquired Mark Carreon from San Francisco for reliever Jim Poole. Carreon, 33, hit .260 with nine home runs and 51 runs batted in this season for the Giants, who also get a player to be determined later.

Poole, a left-handed setup man, was 4-0 with a 3.04 earned-run average in 32 appearances for the Indians this season. Carreon will spell Franco, who is batting .326 but has been hobbled by a hamstring injury. Carreon can also play outfield.