Federal prosecutors say an off-duty Drug Enforcement Administration special agent was acting within the scope of his duties as a law enforcement officer when, according to the state, he assaulted a woman during his son’s soccer practice in March.

Daniel Moore, 48, of Kapolei pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court Thursday to misdemeanor assault.

Moore had appeared twice in state court on the charge before federal prosecutors moved the case to federal court when they were unable to convince city prosecutors to drop the charge.

As a result, federal prosecutors will face off against city prosecutors in federal court. City prosecutors will prosecute the case while federal prosecutors will defend Moore.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin S. Chang scheduled trial for February.

The state says Moore was not "acting under color of law" when he threw a 47-year-old woman down and pinned her to the ground in the parking lot of Kapolei Community Park after asking her to leave the park.

The woman told police she and her friends were hanging out under a tree at the park and were not happy that a soccer team had set up so close to them in an apparent attempt to force them to move.

Moore said he identified himself as a law enforcement officer and was trying to arrest the woman after she threatened to stab any soccer ball that ventured near her, and after she threatened and charged after one of the other coaches. Moore said he also saw her earlier sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot handling what he believes was methamphetamine, based on his 24 years of experience as a DEA special agent.