SAN DIEGO, June 13, 2012 – Thirteen days down, another 52 days to go for Floyd “Money” Mayweather at the Clark County (Nevada) Detention Center.
Mayweather’s request via attorney Richard Wright to Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa to be released into a house arrest arrangement or similar confinement for the remainder of his sentence due to “health issues” was denied late this afternoon in a written ruling by Saragosa. Mayweather was scheduled for a hearing on the matter Thursday, which will now be unnecessary.
Mayweather was originally sentenced last year to 90 days after pleading guilty to one misdemeanor charge and no contest to two harassment charges for his actions in a 2010 domestic violence battery case involving two of his children and their mother.
Saragosa was apparently unmoved by pleas on Mayweather’s behalf that he was living on a greatly reduced 800 calories a day, becoming dehydrated, and lacked the opportunity for physical activity due to being in protective custody, thus threatening his ongoing career.
Floyd Mayweather’s mug shot. Courtesy Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department/AP.
Saragosa has proved herself to be sympathetic to the impact of Mayweather’s career, having already allowed him to delay serving his sentence six months so he could fight Miguel Cotto on May 5, which brought Mayweather a payday of over $40 million and generated an estimated economic impact to the Las Vegas area of $100 million.
But in her three-page ruling, Saragosa said Mayweather’s condition is “self-induced as water is made available to [Floyd] twenty-four hours a day,” and that “[Floyd] chooses not to eat the food provided.” She also ruled that Mayweather is provided sufficient opportunity and space for physical activity “while the training areas and times provided to Floyd may not be consistent with his prior regimen.”
Mayweather’s attorneys said his health was deteriorating due to the lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and isolated conditions under which he is being held because of his celebrity status. In his motion on Mayweather’s behalf, attorney Wright called it “inhumane” for Mayweather to be held in administrative segregation in a seven-by-twelve foot cell, the same area as the felony prisoners. Mayweather is in a lockdown area 23 hours a day for his protection.
Mayweather’s personal physician Dr. Robert Voy, reportedly examined Mayweather last week and said he has lost muscle tone. Voy also expressed concern about Mayweather behind dehydrated because he is not permitted bottled water. Mayweather doesn’t drink tap water.
Clark County prosecutor Lisa Luzaich says Mayweather is responsible for his circumstances because he refuses to eat the jail food and prefers fruit, bread, and energy bars from the jail commissary; has plenty of water if he wants it; and is “deconditioning” by his own choice.
“It’s jail. Where did he think he was going? The Four Seasons?” asked Luzaich.
A typical Clark County Detention Center jail cell. Photo courtesy Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Mayweather’s attorneys claim his emotional state is declining, that he is withdrawing and developing anger issues he can’t burn off through workouts and training.
It’s entirely possible in this columnist’s opinion that Mayweather has been staging a limited hunger strike to see if he might succeed in improving his circumstances. He is smart enough to give it a try, certainly.
I get it, jail isn’t fun. It’s got to be tougher on someone like Mayweather who lives a privileged life. He has enough money to go anywhere and buy anything he wants. He hangs out with celebrities (Justin Bieber!), and he is admired by thousands of fans. To have it all taken away from his is no doubt a huge shock.
But he should have considered the shock to his system when he decided to commit battery on the mother of his children. Our society does not permit this behavior whether you are famous, rich, or athletically accomplished. You are supposed to suffer while you reflect on the behavior that took away your freedom, a behavior that was your own choice. If you do so with a sincere desire to learn and improve yourself, you can come out the better for it. James Kirkland and Bernard Hopkins learned their lessons well.
Mayweather is eligible for good-time (behavior) credits and is likely to spend a total of 65 days in custody, with 13 of them already in the rearview mirror.
Wearing a snazzy poncho she made herself, Martha Stewart leaves the Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia in March 2005, after serving half her sentence for conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Photo: AP.
Martha Stewart managed to survive being in federal prison. Maybe Mayweather should take up making ponchos like Martha did to pass the time. I’m sure Stewart found jail food less appealing than the fabulous recipes in her cookbooks, too. Come on, Floyd. Man up like Martha.
Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. She is also a serious boxing fan covering the Sweet Science for Communities. Read more Ringside Seat in the Communities at The Washington Times. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego. Gayle can be reached via Google +
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