PENN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO BATTERY CHARGE

Sean Penn pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly assaulting a Grammy-award winning songwriter who had spoken to the actor’s wife, pop superstar Madonna.

Penn, 25, was not present at the Municipal Court arraignment, entering his plea through his attorney, Richard Towne.

Judge Rose Hom scheduled a trial date of Dec. 3.

Penn, star of such films as “Bad Boys” and “The Falcon and the Snowman,” is accused of battering David Wolinski, 37, at Helena’s nightclub in downtown Los Angeles last April.

Wolinski won a Grammy this year for his work on the “Beverly Hills Cop” movie sound track.