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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Another email courtesy of ESPN
MICHAEL VICK RELEASED FROM PRISON
Compiled by Keith Hawkins & Scott Randall
TOP THINGS TO KNOW
1) After being sentenced in December 2007 (23 months in federal prison and three years' probation for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy), Michael Vick will be furloughed Tuesday (meaning the paperwork is finalized for his release) and could be released from Leavenworth prison camp Tuesday or Wednesday. He will be allowed to serve the last two months of his sentence under home confinement in Hampton, Virginia.
2) NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Vick on Aug. 24, 2007. He'll review Vick's status when his sentence is complete. Vick's contract with Atlanta runs to 2013 and calls for him to receive a base salary of $9 million and a bonus of $6.43 million in 2009. The remainder of the contract is worth $45.11 million, with another possible $3 million in Pro Bowl bonuses. As of Feb. 14, 2009, Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff said the Falcons have had no discussions with other teams because Vick is under suspension by the NFL, "but we think some teams might be interested in exploring a trade." In late March 2009, Goodell was asked if Vick will be reinstated for the 2009 season. "I haven't sat down and looked at his case. I haven't met with him. I haven't understood where he is. I'm not going to try to guess."
3) Vick signed a 10-year, $130 million contract in December 2004. In July 2008, Vick filed for bankruptcy, citing debts of between $10 million and $50 million and assets in the same range. On March 31, 2009, a person familiar with the settlement says Michael Vick has agreed to pay the Falcons $6.5 million as part of his bankruptcy case, clearing the way for the team to release him before training camp. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the settlement is not being announced publicly, said the payment would release Vick from the $130 million, 10-year deal he signed with the team in December 2004.
2007: Trevis Smith, CFL
Convicted on two counts of aggravated sexual assault (knowingly exposing two women to the virus that causes AIDS). He was sentenced to six years in a federal penitentiary in Saskatchewan where he served two years before being granted a full parole in February 25, 2009 after serving two years. He played at the University of Alabama (1994-98) and was a starting middle linebacker with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for seven years before he was arrested in 2005. A deportation order against Smith will be executed upon his release and he'll return to the United States. He told the board he no longer expects to be a professional athlete. He plans to rejoin his wife and two children in Alabama, become a substitute teacher and coach football.
December 2006, Terry "Tank" Johnson (NFL)
Arrested at his home in suburban Chicago and charged with six counts of possessing an unlicensed gun. Johnson was on probation for a previous weapons charge. Sentenced to house arrest, 4 months in jail for probation violation, fined $2,500, suspended one game by the NFL. On June 4, 2007, Johnson was suspended 8 games by the NFL for additional legal trouble and released by the Bears on June 25. He signed with the Cowboys on Sept. 18, 2007. He served his suspension, was reinstated and signed to Dallas' active roster on Nov. 5, 2007. He played in the final 8 games of 2007, and played all 16 games in 2008 with the Cowboys. In April 2009, Johnson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.
September 2006, Maurice Clarett (NFL)
On January 1, 2006, police sought Clarett in relation to two incidents of armed robbery that took place outside a danceclub in Columbus, OH. Clarett is alleged to have robbed two people with a .45 caliber handgun and then escaped in a white SUV with two unidentified persons. Clarett reportedly made off with only a cell phone valued at $150 belonging to one of the victims.
In the early morning of August 9, 2006, Clarett was arrested in Columbus after he made an illegal U-turn and led the police on a chase in a sports utility vehicle reportedly belonging to his uncle. After the chase ended officers discovered a hatchet, a loaded AK-47 variant, a Hi-Point Pistol and two other loaded handguns in his vehicle along with an open bottle of alcohol. Clarett was arraigned on August 10, 2006 in Columbus on the charges of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and failure to maintain current lane. According to a Columbus Dispatch report, Clarett, who was due to be tried for his January arrest, was in the neighborhood of one of the principal witnesses against him at the time the events of August 9 occurred. On September 18, Clarett filed a guilty plea to the charges in a plea bargain that involved these events as well as the earlier robbery charges. He was sentenced by Judge David Fais to seven and a half years in prison, but may apply for early release after three and a half years. As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution agreed not to object to early release if and when Clarett applies for it.
October 2005: Pierre Pierce, Iowa basketball
ADEL, Iowa -- Former Iowa basketball star Pierre Pierce was sentenced to two years in prison for assaulting a former girlfriend at her apartment last January. Pierce pleaded guilty in August to third-degree burglary, a felony, and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, false imprisonment and fourth-degree criminal mischief -- all misdemeanors. Judge Gregory Hulse gave Pierce a five-year suspended sentence on the burglary charge. But Hulse sentenced Pierce to two years in prison on the assault charge and one year each for false imprisonment and criminal mischief, ordering the sentences be served concurrently. Pierce spent 11 months in the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility and was released in September 2006. Pierce will remain on probation for four years and a month. He was dismissed from the Iowa during the 2004-05 season, his junior year. Until his release from the team, Pierce had been leading the team with 17.8 PPG. He is now playing (2008-09 season) overseas in France for Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket.
June 2005: Carlton Dotson, former Baylor basketball player
Former Baylor basketball player Carlton Dotson was sentenced to 35 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to killing Baylor basketball player Patrick Dennehy in the summer of 2003. The two were best friends and were in a field shooting guns at targets when Dotson killed Dennehy. Dotson will be eligible for parole after serving about one-half of the sentence. Dotson moved in with Dennehy in May 2003, and said the two bought guns for protection after receiving threatening phone calls. Dotson told his attorneys that in the months before he shot Dennehy, he was paranoid that people were trying to kill him. “Patrick started shooting at cans and things; he had a gun in his hand. At that time Carlton thought, ‘He’s going to kill me. I know he’s going to kill me. I’ve got to kill him first.’ And he killed him first,” defense attorney Russ Hunt said.
November 2005, Ugueth Urbina (MLB)
On Nov. 7, Urbina was arrested by Venezuelan authorities on a charge of attempted murder for an incident that occurred on October 16. Urbina allegedly attacked five farm workers on his property and tried to injure them both with a machete and by attempting to pour gasoline on them. On March 28 2007, Urbina was convicted of attempted murder. Additional charges included illegal deprivation of liberty and violating a prohibition against taking justice into his own hands. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, ending his professional baseball career.
February 2004, Jamal Lewis (NFL)
Indicted on federal drug charges involving a drug deal in the summer of 2000. He was charged with conspiring to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute and using a cell phone in the commission of the crime. Pleaded guilty to using a cell phone to set up a drug deal. He spent 4 months in prison, and was suspended 2 games by the NFL.
January 2003, Dwayne Goodrich (NFL)
Charged with two counts of manslaughter after a deadly hit-and-run accident. Found guilty, serving 12 years in prison, ordered to pay $6 million.
May 2002, Vinny Sutherland (NFL)
Arrested for felony hit-and-run and driving under the influence following a single-vehicle accident. Sutherland was driving with a suspended license after a previous DUI charge. Pleaded no-contest and was sentenced to 20 days in jail. Did not play in NFL following sentence.
January 2001, Tremain Mack (NFL)
Jailed for probation violation after operating a vehicle when he was not supposed to after alcohol related incidents in 1997 and 1998. Sentenced to 30 days in jail. Did not play in NFL again.
Nov 2000 - Jan 2001, Rae Carruth (NFL)
Was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cherica Adams, 24. She was seven months pregnant with his child when she was gunned down Nov. 16 1999 as she sat in her car. She died a month later. The baby boy, named Chancellor, survived. Carruth was accused of paying a hitman to kill Adams and was arrested in Dec 1999 and served 14 months of jail time before his trial. He was convicted in January 2001 of murder conspiracy in the shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend in Charlotte, N.C. Carruth was found not guilty of first degree murder, but guilty of all other charges: Conspiracy to commit murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and using an instrument to destroy an unborn child. The first-degree murder charge could have brought the death penalty. Carruth is serving a sentence of at least 18 years, 11 months.
2000: Byron "Bam" Bam Morris
Played for four teams in six years in the NFL from 1994-99. August 2000, Morris pleaded guilty to two counts of federal drug trafficking and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. On Sept. 10, 2001, Morris was convicted of violating his parole stemming from a 1996 plea bargain and sentenced to 10 years in a Texas prison. He was released early on July 31, 2004. In January 2006, Morris was signed by the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League, but left the team to try and make a return to the NFL. While awaiting to hear from NFL on whether he would be reinstated, Morris signed with the Katy Copperheads of the National Indoor Football League. He never played in the NFL again.
October 1998, Leonard Little (NFL)
Drank and drove his sport utility vehicle into Susan Gutweiler's car. A wife and mother, she died the next day. The Rams put him on paid leave. Little pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and served 90 days in jail, four years probation and 1,000 hours of community service. Then NFL stated that Little could play in training camp and exhibition games but was banned without pay for the first eight regular-season games. That half-season suspension cost him roughly $125,000.
February 1992, Mike Tyson (Boxing)
Tyson was arrested in July 1991 for the rape of Miss Black Rhode Island, Desiree Washington, in an Indianapolis hotel room. Tyson was convicted on the charge on February 10. Under Indiana law, a defendant convicted of a felony must begin serving his prison sentence immediately after the sentence is imposed. He was given a sentence of six years and was released on March 1995 after serving three years. Tyson did not fight again until later in 1995. He had two comeback bouts against Peter McNeeley and Buster Mathis Jr. which he won easily. Interest in Tyson's first comeback fight since his incarceration was high enough that it grossed more than USD $96 million worldwide, including a United States record $63 million for PPV television. The fight was purchased by 1.52 million homes, setting both PPV viewership and revenue records for that time. He regained one belt by easily winning the WBC title from Frank Bruno in March 1996 by knocking him out in the third round. Tyson added the WBA belt by defeating champion Bruce Seldon in one round in September that year. Tyson was 41-1 prior to his conviction and prison sentence, 9-5 following with 2 no-contests.
1983, Tony Ayala Jr. (Boxing)
On January 1, 1983 in N.J., Ayala burglarized the home of his neighbor, a young schoolteacher, and brutally sexually assaulted her. Although he was only 19 years old, Ayala had already been convicted twice of assaults against women. He had been given probation for these offenses. Under a repeat offender's law, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The prosecutor at trial argued the young boxer should serve the full term because he was a danger to the community. Ayala was paroled from prison in 1999 and resumed his boxing career, winning 9 fights and losing 2.
1981, Esteban de Jesus (Boxing)
Former World Boxing Council lightweight champion was sentenced to life in the Rio Piedras State Penitentiary in Puerto Rico for the fatal shooting of a teen-ager. He died less than two months after Puerto Rico Gov. Rafael Hernandez Colon commuted his sentence after it was disclosed that the former champion had acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
May 1967, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter (Boxing)
Middleweight boxer, was convicted with John Artis for killing three people in a Paterson, N.J., bar in December 1966. Both men were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. In a 1976 appeal trial Carter and Artis were once again found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. In 1985, a federal judge ruled Carter could be released, noting his triple murder conviction was based on racial stereotyping and was freed on the basis of "human decency."
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