Maryland Grants Tyson Parole

Mike Tyson, jailed since February for assaulting two motorists, was granted parole Friday and is scheduled for release no later than June 4.

The Maryland Parole Commission voted, 5-1, to grant the former heavyweight champion his release, contingent upon approval by Indiana authorities.

The exact date of Tyson’s release will depend on how soon Indiana acts.

The commission said it granted parole because it would guarantee that Tyson would be supervised upon his release. Had Tyson served out his term in Rockville, Md.--due to expire in September--he could not have been placed under the supervisory terms of parole.

“Our No. 1 reason for release is to assure that Mr. Tyson will re-integrate safely into society and follow the general rules of his parole,” the commission said. “He needs to be supervised and held accountable to public standards of conduct.”

A call to Tyson probation officer George Walker was not immediately returned.

Manager Shelley Finkel, when asked when Tyson might fight again, said, “I can’t tell you when until he gets out and I sit down and talk with him.”

Tyson has three fights remaining on a deal with the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and at least three more fights with Showtime, Finkel said.

“We expected it,” said Douglas Gansler, state’s attorney for Montgomery County. “He’s being treated like everyone else would be treated with the same criminal history and the same criminal conduct.”

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