James Kirkland Arrested on Weapons Charges

by Brickhaus on Apr 20, 2009 6:17 PM EDT in News Analysis Comment 22 comments

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.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 20, 2009 6:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Doesn’t look good on him… ironic given that just today I saw the Ann Wolfe special on Inside Sports.

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Apr 20, 2009 6:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“charged with unlawful possession of a firearm….”

I didn’t think that was possible in Texas.

by schraubd on Apr 20, 2009 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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 0 recs

damn that sucks. I hope it wasn’t his. Was anyone in the car with him is what I want to know.

by lcollins1 on Apr 20, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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

by jrok on Apr 20, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like the guy, I know he's generally not a bad dude, but if the gun is his, this is just so dumb. The worst part of the ATX doesn't warrant a gun. Yuppie/Hippie town.

by lcollins1 on Apr 20, 2009 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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.

by TXroyal on Apr 20, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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.

by lcollins1 on Apr 21, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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.

by TXroyal on Apr 21, 2009 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

San Marcos? Texas State guy?

by lcollins1 on Apr 21, 2009 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My guess Southwest Texas State to me…lol

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Apr 21, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

another condender

for the tony ayala/ike ibeabuchi wasted talent award.

by sonofapsycho on Apr 20, 2009 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m not ready to throw him in with Tony Ayala but yeah it looks like he’s heading towards tragedy land.

by lcollins1 on Apr 21, 2009 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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.

by TXroyal on Apr 20, 2009 11:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

right. He should and he does know he can’t have a weapon. And, even if it wasn’t his, he knows that if he hangs out with guys who have guns, it’s probably a bad and illegal situation that could get him in a world of shit.

by lcollins1 on Apr 21, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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.

by Brickhaus on Apr 21, 2009 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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)

by Chaos100 on Apr 21, 2009 6:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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.

by Brickhaus on Apr 21, 2009 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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)

by Chaos100 on Apr 21, 2009 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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.

by Brickhaus on Apr 21, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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.]

by Sickle on Apr 21, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs