After some legal sparring yesterday, ex-heavyweight champ Mike Tyson threw in the towel and agreed to a deal that would allow him to avoid risking criminal conviction in exchange for teaching children how to box.
Tyson, 37, agreed to the three-part deal in which he would plead guilty in six months to a non-criminal offense to clear up an assault case stemming from a brawl last summer at the New York Marriott Brooklyn hotel. The deal came on the verge of jury selection.
As part of the deal, Tyson read a short statement in court in which he said his conduct on June 21, 2003, at the Marriott was "very disorderly." He also agreed to teach children about boxing at Gleason's Gym on Front Street in Brooklyn as part of his community service, and he agreed to undergo psychological counseling.
If Tyson honors the remaining components in the next six months, the Brooklyn district attorney's office agreed to drop the misdemeanor assault charges and accept a plea to disorderly conduct, which is a violation.
"We are extremely pleased that the district attorney's office and Mike Tyson have agreed to a fair and equitable resolution," defense attorney Mel Sachs said in court as he announced the deal to Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge John W. Carter.
Sachs announced the deal after a number of closed-door negotiating sessions involving Assistant District Attorney John O'Mara and the defense, sometimes with Carter present. The clincher seemed to be that the fighter would not have to admit to assaulting anyone or risk jail time.
Tyson was charged with assault, disorderly conduct and harassment stemming from a brawl he had with two Pennsylvania men he said confronted him outside the Marriott.
The two alleged victims, Samuel Velez and Nelson Alvarez-Ramos, were themselves charged with menacing and harassment but were not going to testify against Tyson.
According to Sachs, Tyson was provoked by the pair in the fight by taunts of "You've got fists; we got guns."
Outside the courtroom, O'Mara told reporters that the prosecution was willing to be flexible in the case because of mitigating circumstances, mainly that Tyson's actions appeared to be provoked.
Though he claims to no longer be a big-draw fighter, Tyson was the crowd-pleaser once he left the courthouse on Schemerhorn Street yesterday.
Well-wishers rolled down car windows to shake his hand while others thrust five- and ten-dollar bills, even paper bags, at him for autographs. Earlier, Tyson said he was planning to go to Mexico to train.
"Believe it or not, I am on the brink of starving to death," said Tyson, who filed for bankruptcy in August. "I have to pay my bills."
http://www.newsday.com
Tyson, 37, agreed to the three-part deal in which he would plead guilty in six months to a non-criminal offense to clear up an assault case stemming from a brawl last summer at the New York Marriott Brooklyn hotel. The deal came on the verge of jury selection.
As part of the deal, Tyson read a short statement in court in which he said his conduct on June 21, 2003, at the Marriott was "very disorderly." He also agreed to teach children about boxing at Gleason's Gym on Front Street in Brooklyn as part of his community service, and he agreed to undergo psychological counseling.
If Tyson honors the remaining components in the next six months, the Brooklyn district attorney's office agreed to drop the misdemeanor assault charges and accept a plea to disorderly conduct, which is a violation.
"We are extremely pleased that the district attorney's office and Mike Tyson have agreed to a fair and equitable resolution," defense attorney Mel Sachs said in court as he announced the deal to Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge John W. Carter.
Sachs announced the deal after a number of closed-door negotiating sessions involving Assistant District Attorney John O'Mara and the defense, sometimes with Carter present. The clincher seemed to be that the fighter would not have to admit to assaulting anyone or risk jail time.
Tyson was charged with assault, disorderly conduct and harassment stemming from a brawl he had with two Pennsylvania men he said confronted him outside the Marriott.
The two alleged victims, Samuel Velez and Nelson Alvarez-Ramos, were themselves charged with menacing and harassment but were not going to testify against Tyson.
According to Sachs, Tyson was provoked by the pair in the fight by taunts of "You've got fists; we got guns."
Outside the courtroom, O'Mara told reporters that the prosecution was willing to be flexible in the case because of mitigating circumstances, mainly that Tyson's actions appeared to be provoked.
Though he claims to no longer be a big-draw fighter, Tyson was the crowd-pleaser once he left the courthouse on Schemerhorn Street yesterday.
Well-wishers rolled down car windows to shake his hand while others thrust five- and ten-dollar bills, even paper bags, at him for autographs. Earlier, Tyson said he was planning to go to Mexico to train.
"Believe it or not, I am on the brink of starving to death," said Tyson, who filed for bankruptcy in August. "I have to pay my bills."
http://www.newsday.com
