Former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips cannot withdraw his no contest plea in a domestic abuse case.

A state appeals court panel in Los Angeles on Thursday concluded that a lower court judge properly denied Phillips' motions.

Phillips pleaded no contest in 2000 to hitting a woman he had been dating during a confrontation at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Phillips is serving a 10-year prison sentence in an unrelated assault with a deadly weapon case. Phillips had aimed his car at a group of boys and young men after a pickup football game. Four people were hurt.

His appeal in the assault case is pending.

While playing at Nebraska, Phillips was one of the nation's top college football players.