Breaking news: Mayweather a 'wanted' man
Posted: 11 Mar 2004, 13:00
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - A Las Vegas judge has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of lightweight boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, who is accused of striking the mother of three of his children.
Judge Nancy Oesterle of Las Vegas Justice Court issued the warrant after Mayweather failed to appear Tuesday for a scheduled arraignment, which was rescheduled for Friday.
Mayweather, 27, a Grand Rapids native who now lives in Las Vegas, is charged with misdemeanor domestic violence for striking the mother of three of his four children.
If convicted, it would be his third such offense. Less than two years ago, the Las Vegas district attorney at the time insisted that Mayweather would go to a Nevada prison if convicted within seven years of a third domestic violence offense, The Grand Rapids Press reported.
Mayweather pleaded guilty to two domestic violence counts in March 2002 in the same court, both involving the mother of his oldest child. Both assaults occurred in 2001.
Mayweather also pleaded guilty to a battery charge related to that woman's father.
In exchange for his guilty pleas, prosecutors dropped two other charges, including one for domestic violence against the mother of three of his children, who cooperated with Mayweather's defense. Also dropped was a charge that Mayweather broke a champagne bottle over a man's head in a Las Vegas nightclub, after the club owner denied the incident.
Prosecutors stressed the importance of convictions on two domestic violence counts in the plea arrangement, because Nevada law mandates prison for three such convictions in a seven-year span.
Neither Mayweather nor his Las Vegas attorney returned telephone messages seeking comment.
Mayweather is the reigning lightweight champion, though he intends to abdicate that title and move up to junior welterweight. He has reigned continuously as a world champion at 130 and 135 pounds since October 1998.
His next fight is scheduled for May 22 against an undetermined opponent. His promoter, Top Rank Inc., has reserved Van Andel Arena as the tentative venue.
Judge Nancy Oesterle of Las Vegas Justice Court issued the warrant after Mayweather failed to appear Tuesday for a scheduled arraignment, which was rescheduled for Friday.
Mayweather, 27, a Grand Rapids native who now lives in Las Vegas, is charged with misdemeanor domestic violence for striking the mother of three of his four children.
If convicted, it would be his third such offense. Less than two years ago, the Las Vegas district attorney at the time insisted that Mayweather would go to a Nevada prison if convicted within seven years of a third domestic violence offense, The Grand Rapids Press reported.
Mayweather pleaded guilty to two domestic violence counts in March 2002 in the same court, both involving the mother of his oldest child. Both assaults occurred in 2001.
Mayweather also pleaded guilty to a battery charge related to that woman's father.
In exchange for his guilty pleas, prosecutors dropped two other charges, including one for domestic violence against the mother of three of his children, who cooperated with Mayweather's defense. Also dropped was a charge that Mayweather broke a champagne bottle over a man's head in a Las Vegas nightclub, after the club owner denied the incident.
Prosecutors stressed the importance of convictions on two domestic violence counts in the plea arrangement, because Nevada law mandates prison for three such convictions in a seven-year span.
Neither Mayweather nor his Las Vegas attorney returned telephone messages seeking comment.
Mayweather is the reigning lightweight champion, though he intends to abdicate that title and move up to junior welterweight. He has reigned continuously as a world champion at 130 and 135 pounds since October 1998.
His next fight is scheduled for May 22 against an undetermined opponent. His promoter, Top Rank Inc., has reserved Van Andel Arena as the tentative venue.
! How the hell das our friend “Bennie” know all this 
?