State seeks 20- to 50-year sentence for Dokes

Bill Gang

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1999 | 10:25 a.m.

Michael Dokes, the former heavyweight boxing champion who resides in Las Vegas, has had his share of losses during his roller-coaster career, but none have carried the potential punch of the most recent.

Dokes could be taken out of circulation for 20 to 50 years as a result of his guilty plea to felony charges that he attacked his live-in girlfriend in a jealous rage a year ago. The charges include attempted murder, battery with intent to commit a sexual assault and second-degree kidnapping.

But the plea bargain lets the burly ex-boxer -- who came to court last week in a bright purple suit and shoes glittering with rhinestones -- avoid conviction on charges that he sexually assaulted the woman after the beating.

Those three sexual assault charges would have carried mandatory life prison terms had he been convicted.

His attorney, Deputy Public Defender Ralph Baker, said the plea bargain gives Dokes a chance for probation.

Deputy District Attorney Gerald Gardner vowed, however, that he will ask District Judge John McGroarty to ship Dokes to prison "for a very, very long time."

Sentencing is set for Jan. 24 at the request of Baker, who said Dokes is in search of a job as a boxer, wrestler or guest celebrity. He recently has been making guest appearances at sporting events and charities.

While Dokes pleaded guilty, it was under a legal provision that does not require him to admit actual responsibility -- but only to avoid the harsher penalties were he to be convicted of all charges at trial.

Baker noted that Dokes "always has maintained his innocence and said the incident was a matter of self defense."

At a preliminary hearing last year, the girlfriend told a justice of the peace that she was attacked by an angry Dokes when she arrived home about 5 a.m. on Aug. 30, 1998, after attending a Janet Jackson concert earlier that night.

She testified that Dokes hit her, threw her around by the hair and kept her from leaving to seek medical attention for hours.

Gardner said that although Dokes sidestepped the sexual assault charges, his guilty plea to the count of battery with intent to commit sexual assault will make him a "sex offender" who must register as such and will be under supervision for the rest of his life.

And wherever Dokes lives in Nevada, his neighbors will have to be notified of his conviction under state law, he said.

The plea bargain occurred last week although the case was not on calendar.