Mike Tyson pleads guilty to charges

Mike Tyson walks out of Judge Helene Abrams
courtroom at the Maricopa County Superior Court
complex in Mesa, Ariz., Monday, Sept. 24, 2007

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson pleaded guilty Monday to charges of drug possession and driving under the influence stemming from a traffic stop last year as he was leaving a nightclub.

Tyson quietly acknowledged to a judge that he had cocaine and was impaired when he was stopped for driving erratically in Scottsdale on Dec. 29.

He pleaded guilty to a single felony count of drug possession and a misdemeanor DUI count and faces up to four years and three months in prison (6 months for the DUI and 45 months for the drug charge) when he is sentenced Nov. 19. A felony charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and a second misdemeanor DUI charge were dropped, according to the terms of a plea agreement.

Defense lawyer David Chesnoff said Tyson has been clean and sober for eight months.
"He took the bull by the horns and has managed to deal with his addictions and stay sober for an extended period of time".

Mike Tyson's defense attorney, David Chesnoff, told reporters: "Hopefully, we'll be able to keep him out of prison and get probation." Chesnoff, who has represented tennis player Andre Agassi and Martha Stewart among others, also stated of his client, "Mike has been clean and sober for eight months. He's been doing community service work without a court order and has been talking to community groups about his own drug problems. Its obvious this was a crime he was committing against himself."
"He's not in denial. He's acknowledged that what he did was wrong," he added.
Chesnoff said. If there had been more people interested in his well-being and health along the way, we wouldnt be here now.?

update: Click here to see a video report.

More pictures available in the extended section of this post (click 'Read More' below).

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson walks out of the courtroom at the Maricopa County Superior Court complex in Mesa, Ariz., Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. Tyson pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession and driving under the influence stemming from a traffic stop last year as he was leaving a nightclub. Tyson acknowledged to the judge that he had cocaine and was impaired when he was stopped for driving erratically in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Dec. 29. (AP Photo/Tim Hacker, Pool)

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson waits to appear before Judge Helene Abrams courtroom walks out of the courtroom at the Maricopa County Superior Court complex in Mesa, Ariz., Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. Tyson pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession and driving under the influence stemming from a traffic stop last year as he was leaving a nightclub. Tyson acknowledged to the judge that he had cocaine and was impaired when he was stopped for driving erratically in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Dec. 29. (AP Photo/Tim Hacker, Pool)

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson leaves Superior Court after pleading guilty to charges of drug possession and driving under the influence stemming from a traffic stop last year as he was leaving a nightclub.Monday,

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, left, leaves Superior Court with attorney David Chesnoff after pleading guilty to charges of drug possession and driving under the influence stemming from a traffic stop last year as he was leaving a nightclub, Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Surrounded by media former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson leaves Superior Court after pleading guilty to charges of drug possession and driving under the influence stemming from a traffic stop last year as he was leaving a nightclub.Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Mike Tyson News: Mike Tyson pleads guilty to charges