Allegation

A Hamilton County, Ohio, grand jury yesterday declined to indict former Phillies closer Mitch Williams after hearing allegations that he raped a woman he met in a suburban Cincinnati bar last September. The grand jury said it was unconvinced by evidence prosecutors offered on behalf of the woman, who was not identified. Williams and the Phillies were in Cincinnati for a three-game series. He was traded to the Houston Astros Dec. 2. "We're just thrilled that it was resolved as quickly as it was," said Martin Pinales, the Cincinnati lawyer whom Williams had retained.

Police in Millbrae, Calif., said yesterday that they were continuing their investigation into an allegation that a member of the Eagles' practice squad sexually assaulted a woman Saturday night at the team's hotel outside San Francisco. A spokesman said the police still were interviewing witnesses and the alleged victim. The Eagles stayed at the Westin Hotel in Millbrae, a suburb south of San Francisco, on Saturday night. Their season ended with a 14-0 loss to the 49ers on Sunday in the NFC wild-card game at 3Com Park.

Citing contradictory testimony and a lack of evidence, a legislative ethics panel has dropped its inquiry into an allegation that a legislator pressured a New Jersey Network executive to hire his girlfriend. Hendrix F.C. Niemann, the network's former executive director, charged in December that a legislator had used his position on the Joint Appropriations Committee last year to try to pressure Niemann to hire his girlfriend. Niemann said the lawmaker had implied that the network's budget request might be jeopardized unless he complied.

Police are investigating an allegation that a fourth-grade boy was sexually assaulted by other boys last month at a West Philadelphia school, a school district spokesman said Tuesday. Three other fourth graders allegedly assaulted the boy in a restroom at Bryant School, 6001 Cedar Ave., said district spokesman Fernando Gallard. The school was alerted by the boy's mother, who contacted his teacher Nov. 5, a Saturday, Gallard said. A school inquiry was launched the following Monday.

THE NCAA'S nearly 2-year investigation into Miami's athletics department is about to hand former men's coach Frank Haith some bad news, according to a report by CBSSports.com. The site reported Monday afternoon that the NCAA is expected to release a notice of allegations as early as this week, and that Haith is expected to be charged with unethical conduct and failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance. Haith is in his second season as head coach at Missouri. Haith's potential charges stem from an allegation from former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro - who is at the heart of the NCAA investigation - that a member of Haith's staff paid $10,000 to the family of DeQuan Jones, a former player.

CARLOS GUERRERO, who has dominated the trainer standings at Parx Racing for the last 2 years, has been charged with one count of misdemeanor indecent assault by Bensalem police, as the result of an incident that took place at the track last month. The track has responded to the charge by ejecting Guerrero from the track for 10 years. The 10 years is arbitrary. Once the case is adjudicated, the suspension will be adjusted to a more reasonable period of time. "We are preparing an appeal as we speak," said William Goldman, Jr., Guerrero's attorney.

Despite a 14-year-old girl's allegation in June that her caretaker sexually abused her, city social workers allowed the teen-ager's younger brother and sister to remain in the home, according to neighbors and a child-welfare source. Police on Monday arrested Walter Pernell, 44, of Elliott Street near 55th, and charged him with two counts of indecent assault, corrupting the morals of a minor and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the teen- ager. Bail of $10,000 was set for Pernell, whom police identified as the girl's foster father.

LOS ANGELES - A gay Arizona sheriff - recently and publicly accused of threatening to deport a former boyfriend - denied yesterday that he had done anything illegal and said he would continue his bid for a congressional seat. "I have never run from a fight and am not going to now," Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu told interviewer Wolf Blitzer on CNN. "I am a single man, never have been married and don't have a fake girlfriend," said Babeu, who also served in the military.

Republican Jack McMahon raised a series of ethical allegations against District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham yesterday, contending she shows favoritism toward friends, relatives, the rich and the powerful. Abraham's campaign spokeswoman denied McMahon's allegations and said they were the work of a candidate headed for election defeat on Tuesday who is desperate to grab attention. "I think this whole thing is a distress call from a campaign lost at sea - an SOS," said Eleanor Dezzi, Abraham's campaign manager.