Mike Tyson Jailed for 24 hrs
November 19, 2007

He has beaten numerous opponents in the ring, but Mike Tyson has never had much luck fighting the law. This time around, Mike Tyson, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, has scored a relatively light sentence, as Tyson was sentenced to 24 hours in prison and three years' probation in relation to a drug possession and DUI charge.

41-year-old Mike Tyson had pleaded guilty to a single felony count of cocaine possession, as well as a misdemeanor DUI charge, back in September. The charges came after police Scottsdale, Arizona stopped Tyson last December after the slugger had left a local bar. After pulling Tyson over, the officers at the scene noticed that Tyson has slurred speech and was also seen wiping a white substance off his black BMW's dashboard. After police searched Tyson, they discovered small bags of cocaine in his pocket and his car.

The Associated Press quoted Mike Tyson, who told Superior Court Judge Helene Abrams softly that, "I take responsibility for my actions." Tyson was then handed the day-long jail sentence, despite the fact he faced a maximum of four years, three months in prison for the two offenses. Prosecutor Shane Krauser had recommended that the court give Tyson a one year prison sentence, stating that the former boxer is a repeat offender who has committed a violent crime. Krauser stated, "Judge, by my calculations, this is his fourth or fifth chance."

During the arrest, Mike Tyson admitted to officers that he used cocaine, "whenever I can get my hands on it." Tyson also revealed that his preferred method of using cocaine was to empty the tobacco out of a Marlboro cigarette and smoke the cocaine in its place. Also during his arrest, Tyson admitted to having used marijuana that day, as well as Zoloft, a prescription antidepressant. However, since his arrest and guilty plea, Mike Tyson has checked himself in a treatment program for his various addictions. According to his attorney, David Chesnoff, Mike Tyson has given 29 clean drug tests since the arrest, and has not yet failed any. Tyson also attends Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

As well as the one day in jail, which Tyson is expected to serve on Tuesday, the former heavyweight champion of the world was also sentenced to 460 hours of community service, three years' probation, and a fine not yet determined.