USA: BOXING - Former world champion Mike Tyson goes to jail - again

Former world champion Mike Tyson reports to jail for the third time in 15 years after pleading guilty to drug possession and driving under the influence. Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson wore prison stripes on Tuesday (November 20) to serve one day of a 10-day sentence for drug possession and driving under the influence. Tyson pleaded guilty to the charges last September and on was sentenced by a judge on Monday (November 19) to 10 days in jail, but was required to serve only one. In addition to jail time for the driving offence, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Helene Abrams ordered Tyson to serve three years' probation on each count and perform 360 hours of community service. The incident occurred last December when Tyson was stopped in his black BMW after leaving a nightclub. Cocaine was found in his pocket and in the car. Tyson also told police that he used marijuana that day and according to arrest documents, was taking the anti-depressant Zoloft. The court heard that Tyson, a convicted rapist, was seeking treatment for "various addictions" after he admitted he used cocaine "whenever I can get my hands on it". Since his arrest, Tyson has checked himself into an in-atient treatment programme for what his lawyer called "various addictions", which might have helped him get a more lenient sentence. Judge Abrams said she was impressed that Tyson was seeking therapy for his drug addiction. It was not the first time the boxer found himself behind bars. In 1992, Tyson was convicted of rape in Indiana. In 1999, he pleaded no contest to misdemeanour assault charges in Maryland. In 1986, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history when, at 20, he knocked out Trevor Berbick.

ITN Source | November 21, 2007

Tags:. .monday. .since. .hands. .drug. .driving