Prosecutors eye Tyson’s past

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002 | 11:02 a.m.

Prosecutors expect to review evidence in two previous sexual assault cases involving boxer Mike Tyson before deciding whether to charge him in a couple of Las Vegas incidents, a top member of the district attorney's office said Wednesday.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Douglas Herndon, who heads the Special Victims Unit, said a detailed look at the past cases could uncover similarities that would help in the investigation of local sexual assault charges against the former heavyweight champion.

"If there are similarities, I think we would be remiss if we didn't at least take a look at those other cases," said Herndon, who is expected to play a role in the decision on whether to charge Tyson.

Tyson was convicted in 1992 of raping a Miss Black America contestant and later served more than three years in prison. Last July a 50-year-old woman accused him of sexually assaulting her at a home he rented in Big Bear, Calif., while training. Prosecutors there decided against filing charges.

Metro Police on Friday plan to ask Clark County prosecutors to charge Tyson with sexually assaulting a woman at his 11,000-square-foot home in Las Vegas in September. Police also are investigating another recently discovered alleged rape at Tyson's home in November 2000.

Herndon said he was told that both of the Las Vegas cases allegedly involved sodomy.

Lt. Jeff Carlson of Metro's sexual assault unit said police have obtained some information from the previous criminal cases outside Nevada.

"We look to see if there is anything that may be similar to our case," he said. "However, what he may have done in California or in Indiana doesn't mean he committed the sexual assault here."

But Herndon said prosecutors expect to look for a pattern in Tyson's conduct.

Tyson's entire controversial background, including other well-publicized incidents where he allegedly "snapped," also will be examined, Herndon said.

That will include reviewing 1998 psychiatric treatment Tyson received, as well as reports to the Nevada Athletic Commission, which this week refused to give Tyson a license to fight heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis in April, he said.

"I think it would be prudent for us to look at as much as we can, whatever we have about him," Herndon said.

Retiring District Attorney Stewart Bell has invited a long list of seasoned prosecutors, including the three deputies running for his post this year, to help him decide whether to charge Tyson.

Tyson's Phoenix lawyer, Darrow Soll, could not be reached for comment this morning. But on Wednesday he said he hoped the district attorney would do a "thorough investigation" of the two Las Vegas incidents and give him a chance to respond before deciding whether to file charges.

Bell, who is stepping down at the end of the year after two terms in office, said he asked the three candidates running for his job to participate in the decision, because he expected the Tyson case would "spill over" into the next administration if charges are filed.

The three candidates -- Assistant District Attorney Mike Davidson, a Democrat, and Chief Deputy District Attorneys David Roger and Abby Silver, both Republicans -- all plan to attend Friday's meeting.

Bell said Wednesday a decision could take anywhere from several days to several months.