
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 8, 1994                   TAG: 9403080134
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: INDIANAPOLIS                                LENGTH: Short

TYSON LOSES APPEAL

Mike Tyson lost his bid Monday to have his rape conviction reviewed by the nation's highest court. Now, he will try to win early release from prison - through education.

The former world heavyweight champion was convicted in February 1992 of raping beauty pageant contestant Desiree Washington of Coventry, R.I., while both were in Indianapolis the previous summer. He was sentenced to six years at the Indiana Youth Center in Plainfield, but his May 1995 release could be moved up by six months if he passes his high school equivalency exam.

"He's focused on passing the GED this month and maybe getting out this year," said the Rev. Charles Williams, a close friend of Tyson's and president of Black Expo.

"I doubt this will affect him," Phil Slavens, assistant superintendent, operations, of the youth center, said of Monday's Supreme Court decision. "I think he sets himself up to expect the worst and is pretty surprised when something other than that happens."

He added that Tyson did not hear of the decision until after his morning classes.

Muhammed Siddeeq, an Indianapolis friend who visits Tyson regularly, said, "I'm sure he's disappointed that they did not render a just decision, but I'm also sure that he's not broken because he knows he's innocent."

Memo: NOTE: Longer version ran in New River Valley edition.

by CNB