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Tyson could get out of jail next week

The former heavyweight champion was granted parole on Friday, with his release to take place no later than June 4.

Indiana authorities could give their required approval of the decision as early as Monday, allowing Tyson to go home for the first time since he was sentenced on February 5.

The Maryland Parole Commission voted 5-1 to grant Tyson's release, saying it wanted to keep a tight reign on him. Had Tyson served out his term, he would have been placed immediately on probation rather than on the stricter terms of parole.

"Our No.1 reason for release is to assure that Mr. Tyson will reintegrate safely into society and follow the general rules of his parole,'' the commission said. "He needs to be supervised and held accountable to public standards of conduct.''

Manager Shelley Finkel, when asked when Tyson might fight again, said, "I can't tell you when until he gets out and I sit down and talk with him.''

Tyson has three fights remaining on a deal with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and at least three more fights with Showtime, Finkel said.

With good behavior, Tyson would have been released from the Rockville, Md., jail in September had he not been granted parole. He will now be on parole until September, followed by two years' probation that includes 200 hours of community service.

"We expected it,'' said Douglas Gansler, state's attorney for Montgomery County. "He's being treated like everyone else would be treated with the same criminal history and the same criminal conduct.
"It's not like he's now sort of scot-free. He will still be under parole, and he's going to be under the auspices of the criminal justice system for the next two years.''

Tyson last fought on January 16 and he was behind on all three cards before he stopped Francois Botha in the fifth round at Las Vegas. He was tentatively scheduled to fight again on April 24 against an undetermined opponent, but was then was sentenced to jail.

The Botha fight was Tyson's first since his license was restored by Nevada boxing authorities on October 19. The license had been revoked after he was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield ears June 28, 1997.

Tyson pleaded no-contest to misdemeanor assault charges following a minor traffic accident in suburban Gaithersburg, Md., in August. He was sentenced to one year in the Montgomery County jail, and 60 days were later added as punishment for violating probation for a 1992 rape conviction in Indiana.

Early in his sentence, Tyson spent five days in solitary confinement for throwing a television in a jail recreation room. His lawyers said Tyson had not received his antidepressant medication for several days before the outburst.

Tyson has also undergone counseling while in jail. His medication was changed, and he has been studying for a high school equivalency diploma.

AP