Temper, temper
Tyson in isolation after tantrum in Maryland jail
Posted: Monday February 22, 1999 01:53 PM
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Mike Tyson, seen here after his most recent conviction earlier this month, could lose visitation and other privileges if prison officials choose to revoke them. AP |
ROCKVILLE, Md., Feb 20 (Reuters) - Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson will face disciplinary action in a Maryland jail on Monday after a violent temper tantrum that could make it harder for him to gain an early release to resume his career.
The volatile 32-year-old fighter, who was jailed Feb. 5 for assaulting two older motorists after a minor traffic accident in the suburban Washington community of Gaithersburg, had to spend the weekend in isolation after hurling a television against a set of bars at the Montgomery County Detention Centre.
The former heavyweight champion was put in an isolation cell at
the Montgomery County (Md.) Detention Center after the outburst. He
faces a hearing this week that could lead to loss of privileges but
will not result in further jail time.
"Mr. Tyson was going through some problems on Friday night," Eric Seleznow, spokesman for the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, said on Saturday.
"He threw a TV. He was written up and remanded to the facility's administrative segregation area. He threw it against some bars with people on the other side. No one was injured."
Tyson has been in the Montgomery County jail for two weeks.
A judge sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment for punching a 60-year-old man in the jaw and kicking a 50-year-old in the groin last August after a traffic accident. He pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor assault charges in December.
County officials said he has been housed with about a dozen other inmates who are secluded from the general population of 640 prisoners.
The Maryland jail term has meant fresh trouble for Tyson, a convicted rapist who was suspended from boxing for more than a year for biting the ears of world champion Evander Holyfield in a June 1997 title bout.
Before Friday's incident, Tyson faced the possibility of being sent back to jail in Indiana for up to four years for violating probation following early release for the 1992 rape conviction.
Tyson backers also have warned that the Nevada State Athletic Commission could revoke his license for good because of the Maryland incident.
"He's been generally compliant and reasonable until this incident," said Seleznow.
County officials have said Tyson could resume training within three to four months if he were to gain early release for good behaviour.
But the prison officials who preside over Monday's disciplinary hearing could impose punishments ranging from a loss of good-behaviour time to a loss of visitation rights and other privileges.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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