Power of Caring
  presented by CIGNA

Tommy Morrison hit with more charges

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Friday September 17, 1999 05:34 PM

At a hearing in Oklahoma, Tommy Morrison hinted that he might return to the ring. Al Bello/Allsport

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Tommy Morrison, the former World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion, is to answer to drug and other charges at a court appearance next month.

Prosecutor Terry Jones said Friday that Morrison's bond was set at $3,500, and he is to be arraigned Oct. 18 in Washington County Circuit Court.

"He has a house here, he has property here, I guess the judge thought that was enough to keep him around," Jones said.

Fayetteville police Lt. Angela Munson said Morrison made bond Friday and was released from the Washington County jail.

Morrison was stopped for careless driving on a busy Fayetteville street Thursday night. Sgt. Mike Perryman said Morrison had more than a gram of cocaine on him and also had marijuana and a gun.

Morrison was arrested on charges including possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of drugs, simultaneous possession of drugs and a gun, careless driving, refusing to submit to a drug test and driving without liability insurance, Perryman said.

On Sept. 10, Morrison received a two-year suspended sentence for drunken driving in Tulsa County, Okla. He pleaded guilty to drunken driving and other charges in the case. After his hearing, he said he was returning to his native Arkansas to "take a nap."

Morrison, who is HIV-positive, also said at the hearing that he might consider a return to boxing. He likened his infection to the common cold.

Morrison became the WBO's heavyweight champion in 1993 by defeating George Foreman. He had 40 knockouts during his career, the last in 1996 -- just after testing positive for HIV.

In 1997, a Delaware County, Okla., jury convicted Morrison of driving under the influence and other charges related to a chain-reaction traffic accident that injured three people. He was ordered to spend time in treatment. He also avoided jail time on charges of drunken driving and speeding in Kansas in 1997.

 

Related information
Stories
Ex-boxer Morrison avoids jail, hints at return to ring
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.