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OAKLAND — Three of the four police officers charged in “The Riders” scandal pleaded innocent Wednesday to assault, kidnapping, filing false reports and other charges in one of the city’s biggest crackdowns on police misconduct. 

Jude Siapno, 32, Clarence “Chuck” Mabanag, 35, and Matthew Hornung, 29, each pleaded innocent to all charges against them in Alameda County Superior Court. 

The crimes, which allegedly took place between June 13 and July 3, were brought to light after a rookie officer who had been on duty about three weeks came forward to his superiors in early July. 

Dressed in suits and ties, the officers smiled and appeared relaxed in the courtroom before the proceedings. Hornung sat with his parents. The officers spoke only in response to questions from the Judge Marshall Whitley. 

Several uniformed police officers also attended in support of their accused colleagues. 

A fourth accused officer, Frank Vazquez, 43, did not appear. Authorities believe he may have fled to Mexico, where he has relatives. 

After the hearing, Mabanag’s lawyer, Michael Rains, described his client as an officer who never missed a day of work during his 10 years on the force, had an exemplary record and could not suddenly have become a bad cop. 

“What we see is a case that’s going to largely hang on a rookie police officer ... with very little life experience,” Rains said outside the courtroom. “He simply didn’t see what he said he saw. He was not equipped to deal with the rigors of life in Oakland on the morning shift.” 

Rains said the rookie, Keith Batt, who quickly resigned after accusing the officers, was having a tough time during his initial weeks on the force and resented Mabanag, his trainer, for being tough on him. 

Rains also said police officers are held to a higher standard than civilians. 

“We say officers shouldn’t be entitled to bigger rights ... but I see that they can be prosecuted when others can’t,” the lawyer said 

Their next court appearance was scheduled for Dec. 20.