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Camacho may escape jail in Mississippi theft case

Hector ''Macho'' Camacho is escorted to Harrison County Circuit Court in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Monday. A judge on Monday agreed to delay sentencing for the three-time boxing champion until his family in Puerto Rico can arrange plans to attend the hearing. Camacho pleaded guilty to a 2004 burglary charge on May 7. PHOTO: AP

Hector "Macho" Camacho was sentenced to the maximum seven years in prison on Monday for burglary, but the eight-time world boxing champion could avoid spending time in a cell.

Harrison County, Mississippi, Circuit Judge Steve Simpson suspended six years of the sentence and said Camacho could serve one year under house arrest if authorities in Puerto Rico agree to monitor him. That would be followed by two years' probation.

The deal would allow the 44-year-old Camacho to continue working. But if he violates any of the conditions set at sentencing, he would have to serve the entire seven years.

"I am deeply sorry," Camacho said to the judge and offered apologies to boxing fans and the people of Mississippi, according to story posted on the Sun Herald's Web site.

The judge declined to hear a motion to dismiss a drug charge filed Jan. 6, 2005, in Biloxi. Authorities say they found 10 pills of Ecstasy in a casino hotel room where Camacho claims he had stopped to use the restroom. A trial on the charge is tentatively set for this month.

Simpson set bond on the drug charge at US$75,000. Camacho's previous bond had been revoked May 7 during a plea hearing after a bail bondsman complained that Camacho still owed him money and had not stayed in touch since his release.

Camacho could again be released on bail in a few days depending on cooperation from Puerto Rican officials.

Camacho won super lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight world titles in the 1980s. His last title bout came against then-welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya in 1997, a loss by unanimous decision.

A warrant was issued for Camacho on Dec. 22, 2004, for a November burglary of a computer store. While arresting him in January 2005, police say they found the Ecstasy.

In a written statement around the time of his arrest, Camacho apologized for the break-in, which caused nearly US$13,000 in damage and losses at ZDI Computer Center in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Camacho had bought a laptop from the business but left it there for work on technical problems. He was trying to retrieve his computer and was "crazy" on tequila, he said, when he crawled through the ceiling of office space he shares with the computer company.

Wayne Woodall, the attorney for the store's owners, claims Camacho fell through the ceiling and left with seven laptops and about US$5,600 in checks and cash.

Camacho has had previous brushes with the law involving drugs, his driving habits, and domestic assault.
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