Boxing legend Mike Tyson had a four-year-long break in his career because he went to prison. Tyson was accused of r**e by an 18-year-old Desiree Washington and the boxer was arrested for the crime in July 1991. Washington claimed that Tyson forced himself upon her in an Indianapolis hotel room.

Tyson’s trial lasted for over two weeks from January 26 to February 10, 1992, at the Marion County superior court. The boxer had pleaded not guilty and denied the rape allegations claiming that the s*x with Washington was consensual.

As reported by The Sun, “Tyson’s chauffeur, Virginia Foster, confirmed Washington’s state of shock after the incident. Emergency room physician, Thomas Richardson examined Washington after the incident and confirmed that Washington’s physical condition was consistent with r**e.”

On February 10, 1992, after the jury deliberated (thoughtfully weighed their options before voting) for around 10 hours, Tyson was convicted on the r**e charge.

Alan Dershowitz acted as Tyson’s counsel at the time and he decided to file an appeal urging an error of law. In a 2-1 vote, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled against the American boxer. The Indiana Supreme Court had a 2-2 tie in controversial circumstances and held up the lower court’s verdict.

Apparently, according to Leagle, the Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court listed a heated argument between his wife and Dershowitz as the reason to recuse himself from the vote. This led to a tie in the voting.

After all this controversy, Tyson was sentenced to six years in prison on March 26, 1992.

Mike Tyson was released from prison before his sentence was completed

According to many reports, Tyson turned to Islam while in prison and converted into a Muslim. This was also said by Charlie Rock LD in allegedly his last video before his death. Charlie even alleged that Tyson turned to Islam and paid people in prison for his safety. However, Tyson did not need the alleged safety for more than three years. He was out of prison before the completion of his six-year sentence.

He left prison in March 1995. Tyson, however, has to register as a Tier II sex offender under US federal law. The last time Tyson stepped into a ring before his arrest was in June 1991. He had defeated Donovan Ruddock to stretch his record to 41-1.

Tyson’s next bout was fought on August 19, 1995. He fought Peter McNeely. His four-year hiatus did not hinder him in any way. He won the bout to stretch his record to 42-1. Tyson went on to lose five more matches in his career. He fought his last in June 2005 and ended his career with a record of 50-6.