The meltdown of Iron Mike
Tyson back behind bars; boxing career in jeopardy
Posted: Saturday February 06, 1999 07:23 AM
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Mike Tyson is led away to prison for what Judge Stephen Johnson called "a tragic example of potentially lethal road rage." AP |
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- Before he was sentenced to one year in
jail for assaulting two motorists, Mike Tyson summed up his own
fate in a letter to the judge.
"Jail," Tyson wrote, "would mean I lose everything."
Judge Stephen Johnson read the letter aloud Friday, but it held
no sway when it came time to pronounce sentence.
Calling Tyson someone who "repeatedly speaks and acts
compulsively and violently," the judge put the 32-year-old fighter
back behind bars, jeopardizing the career of one of the all-time
great heavyweights.
The standing-room-only crowd in the courtroom groaned in
surprise. Tyson slumped, but barely. His wife, Monica, was in
tears. She tried to get to him, but couldn't push her way through a
crowd of bailiffs.
Only minutes before, he had gently stroked her face as they
waited through a recess in the three-hour hearing.
Tyson was placed in handcuffs, then had them removed so he could
sign some papers. Then two sets of cuffs were placed on him, with
his hands behind his back, and he was led away, showing little
emotion the entire time.
"I think this was clearly a case of making an example of
Michael one more time," said Michael Steele, Monica Tyson's
brother.
Tyson kicked one motorist and punched another after a minor
three-car accident in Gaithersburg, Md., on Aug. 31. In December,
Tyson pleaded no contest -- meaning he neither protested the charges
nor admitted guilt.
"The court views this as a tragic example of potentially lethal
road rage," Johnson said. "Witnesses say he is kind, caring and
thoughtful. Unfortunately, this court cannot look into the
defendant's mind."
Tyson could have received up to 20 years in jail. He was
sentenced to two years in jail on each count with one year
suspended, running concurrently. He was also fined $5,000 and will
have to serve two years' probation and perform 200 hours of
community service upon release. With good behavior, he could be
released in six months.
But authorities in Indiana must also decide if Tyson has
violated his probation from his 1991 rape conviction. Tyson was
released in 1995 after serving three years of a six-year sentence,
and his probation was set to expire in March.
Prosecutors said they might not have pressed for jail had Tyson
been more contrite.
"He's not admitted his guilt," Montgomery County State's
Attorney Douglas Gansler said. "He's never admitted his guilt."
The decision came three weeks after Tyson's successful comeback
against Francois Botha, his first fight since he lost his license
for biting Evander Holyfield's ears during a championship bout in
June 1997. Tyson was scheduled to fight April 24 in Las Vegas
against an opponent to be determined.
The sentence could lead to a review of Tyson's license by the
Nevada State Athletic Commission. Dr. James Nave, the only Nevada
commissioner who voted against Tyson when the panel reinstated his
license, said it was possible the five members would take no
further action, especially since the license expires Dec. 31.
"My sense is that if it is true, if he's going to be in jail
for a year, there's not much need at this point for us to take
action," Nave said. "What would be the reason for us to do
anything?"
Marina Capurro, spokesman for Showtime, the cable network that
has a multiple-fight contract with Tyson, said she was "surprised
at the severity of the sentence."
Tyson can appeal within 30 days. If the appeal is granted, he
would stand trial on the charges. He cannot be released on bail
before Monday, when he can request a hearing.
The two victims, Abmielec Saucedo and Richard Hardick, settled
out of court, and were against sending Tyson to jail. Both were at
the hearing.
Tyson's lawyers called several witnesses, including the head of
a local homeless shelter where Tyson has performed volunteer work.
Tyson's boxing adviser, Shelley Finkel, testified the fighter had
$20 million in debts to the IRS and others.
"Any time at this point that he would be taken out of the ring
would be a real death sentence," Finkel said. "There is the
likelihood that he would lose his license, which would be
tantamount to banning him from boxing."
Monica Tyson, fighting back tears as she testified on her
husband's behalf, said he was under "a tremendous amount of
stress" at the time of the assault because of his debts and his
boxing suspension.
"He felt like he couldn't provide for us," she said.
Tyson's lawyers also said the fighter was not taking his
antidepressants at the time of the accident. Tyson, who has been
undergoing therapy at Georgetown University Hospital, had been
taking medication to help control his temper.
Prosecutors, however, hammered away at Tyson's violent past,
referring to the fighter as a "time bomb."
And, said Carol Crawford, the assistant state's attorney: "The
time bomb exploded that day."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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