[Peace-discuss] Anti-war MMA star pleads guilty to vandalism

[Neil Parthun]

 From MMAFighting.com

Former UFC title challenger Jeff Monson pleaded guilty Tuesday to  
malicious mischief stemming from his charge for vandalizing the  
Washington State Capital, the AP reports.

Monson entered an Alford plea, which means the defendant does not  
admit guilt, but will accept a sentence as if he had been convicted  
due to the amount of evidence likely to convict him in court.

In this case, the evidence was an exact photo of Monson committing  
the act -- published in an issue of ESPN The Magazine last December.

According to the AP report, prosecutors will recommend that Monson  
serve a 90-day jail sentence and pay $21,894 in restitution. Monson's  
sentencing date has been scheduled for Oct. 1.

Monson told The Olympian shortly after the arrest that he spray- 
painted the anarchist symbol on the government building to protest  
the war in Iraq and the economic inequality at home and abroad.

The vandalism charge was one of two arrests in 2009. In May, Monson  
escaped charges of domestic violence and damage of property for a  
January arrest.

The distractions have not interfered with Monson's fighting career  
(30-8 overall). He's on a seven-fight win streak with recent wins  
over Ricco Rodriguez, Sergei Kharitonov and Roy Nelson.

Solidarity,
   -N.

Neil Parthun
   Sports/politics writer, UC-IMC || www.ucimc.org

Keep your blood clean, your body lean and your mind sharp...Life is  
full of choices, if you've got the guts to go for it.
-Henry Rollins

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