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1:15 PM PT — Gay pleaded not guilty to the criminal damage charge in court Thursday afternoon, records show.

The linebacker is still in custody, though he’s expected to be released later Thursday on personal recognizance.

During the hearing, the judge ordered Gay have no contact with his son or the baby’s mother for the immediate future.

Gay is due back in court on March 2.

7:52 AM PT — A rep for Gay says the football player was arrested after he broke a vacuum during an argument with the mother of his child.

“Willie was at his son’s house visiting,” Maxx Lepselter said in a statement Thursday morning. “He and the mother got into an argument during which he broke her vacuum.”

Lepselter insisted the altercation did not turn physical … adding, “No one was touched, nothing happened beyond broken appliance.”

“She called cops about it and they took him in on misdemeanor destruction of property of less than $1,000.”

Lepselter expected a quick resolution to the case, perhaps even as early as Thursday afternoon.

“Likely just pays a fine and replaces vacuum. Nothing more, all should be resolved today with no further issues.”