James Kirkland Arrested on Weapons Charges
by Brickhaus on Apr 20, 2009 6:17 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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According to Dan Rafael, James Kirkland has been arrested on weapons charges.
Kirkland, 25, who is on probation for a 2003 armed robbery that cost him 2½ years of his career, was arrested during a traffic stop in his hometown of Austin, Texas, and booked Sunday afternoon. He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the Travis County Sherriff's Department Web site.
Whether Kirkland (25-0, 22 KOs) will be available to fight May 2 is unclear.
"It appears that James is the victim of circumstance and we're waiting for the facts to come in before we make any comment," Cameron Dunkin, Kirkland's co-manager, told ESPN.com
If there's merit to the charges, it would be a real shame. Kirkland has been one of the more exciting young fighters recently, and while he does have a checkered past, he's managed to stay out of trouble while focusing on his career. The bad part is that, since he's still on probation, his punishment would be more severe if he's convicted.
[Note by Brickhaus, 04/20/09 6:19 PM EDT ] This is a third-degree felony under Texas law, meaning 2 - 10 years in prison if convicted. Also, it's come out that the gun was in his car, so there's always the question of whether it was actually his. It's a little harder to convict under those facts than if the gun was found on his person.
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ugh, jesus
Staying out of trouble has always been the biggest concern I’ve read about him.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
don't mess with texas
but yeah this blows. i was hoping to see anything exciting KO from kirkland on may 2nd
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Apr 20, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, this just stinks
But if it turns out he had a gun, I guess he only has himself to blame. You don’t get to commit armed robbery and then carry around a pistola.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
Downtown Austin is a little crazy.
If your ever there at night you would know what I mean. The city’s motto for its night life is Keep Austin Weird or some crap like that.
I lived there for years. I went to High School in Dallas, then there, now San Antone. It’s by far the most tame big town in Texas. At its worst, East Austin, Ann Wolfe’s gym territory, is a whole different level of safe than South Dallas or here. It’s just dumb. I guess I understand it because to a certain extent that’s his background, but it’s not impossible to escape that.
Look at B-Hop. Despite the polar opposite fighting style, I’d really hoped that the thing these two guys would have in common is that they F’d up, served time and learned from it. Before the Julio fight, Kirk did an interview where he actually smiled and laughed. I thought that was really indicative of how he’s turned a corner in his perception of the world. Regardless of whether it was his gun or someone else’s, it’s clear to me his perception hasn’t changed.
Some people just never learn
And I agree Austin is one of the safest cities in Texas. I live right in the middle of Austin and San Antonio and for the most part both are calm. I know I don’t carry a gun when I go to either but what do I know.
I don't think it has to be your gun to get a conviction
If it was his car and he was the driver then he is liable for everything and everyone in the car. Its the same for open containers, drugs and guns. I got a ticket in Austin a couple of months ago for a friend having a open container in the back seat of my car while I was driving.
Also I like how Dunkin says he is a victim of circumstance. If he is a felon he should damn well know that no one in his company have guns without a license and even then they shouldn’t be around him. Its a shame but he brought it on himself.
Open container laws are different
They’re usually drafted so the driver has strict liability. A possession case requires the person to actually posses the illegal item. If a buddy of his was in the passenger seat and snuck a gun into the glove box, the passenger likely would be the one in possession rather than Kirkland (although if he knew it was there and was okay with it, they theoretically could both have possession of it).
Vogt early, Vogt often.
What is the open container law?
I’m not being facetious, but being from England I have never heard of it.
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
In most (all?) states in the US
It’s illegal to drive with an open alcoholic beverage container in the car.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Really?
Even if it’s the passenger who is having a beer?
That’s crazy!!
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
Some states
In Florida, if someone else was holding it, you could argue your way out of it, but you could still get arrested even if there were empty cans in the back seat.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
That was the same for seat belts in here NY
They were giving tickets to whom ever was not wearing their seat belts to the person driving the car. Then people started arguing that they “cannot hold a gun” to the person’s head and make them wear their seat belts. Now, they give the ticket to the person that is not wearing their seat belts.
"Count on us! We sponsored Margarito for several years." - CEMEX [Mexico's largest cement company.]
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