Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Sentencing is set for mid-February.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Middleweight boxer Kelly Pavlik has pleaded no contest to a reduced assault charge and faces up to six months in jail for punching a Mahoning County deputy sheriff.
Pavlik, 23, of Cornell Street entered his plea Tuesday in municipal court. Charges of felonious assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct were filed Dec. 9, just hours after a 2 a.m. fight outside Shenanigan's, a Market Street bar.
Judge Robert A. Douglas Jr. accepted the plea agreement worked out between Atty. Mark Hanni and Anthony J. Farris, chief assistant city prosecutor. The judge found Pavlik guilty.
As part of the agreement, the felonious assault charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and the resisting and disorderly charges, both misdemeanors, were dismissed.
The judge ordered a background check and set sentencing for 9 a.m. Feb. 13. Pavlik faces up to six months in jail and $1,000 fine.
Deputy Todd A. Mariani, working a side job at the South Side bar, said in his report that Pavlik screamed threats at the bouncers as he and others who appeared intoxicated were being escorted out.
Punched deputy
Pavlik, restrained by friends, threatened to beat the deputy and have his job. The boxer then punched the deputy, who used pepper spray in an effort to gain control, reports show.
Mariani and Pavlik wrestled, with the boxer trying to pull the deputy's jacket over his head. A city police officer on the scene used pepper spray on Pavlik, with some of it hitting the deputy.
After court Tuesday, Hanni said his client apologized to the deputy.
Hanni said Pavlik will never put himself in an embarrassing situation again and offers his apologies to the community.
"He plans on being middleweight champion of the world," Hanni said. "He recognizes that he will be judged inside and outside the ring. He will represent our community with pride."
Set to fight Jan. 21
Pavlik is schedule to fight Luis Zertucheok Jan. 21 in Las Vegas.
With a record of 27-0 that includes 24 wins by knockout, Pavlik is the 16th ranked middleweight in the world. He won the North American Boxing Federation title Oct. 7 with a TKO in the ninth round against Fulgenciook Zunigaok in Las Vegas.