Tyson pleads guilty to drug possession

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson pleaded guilty to drug possession and driving under the influence in an Arizona court yesterday.

His plea stemmed from an arrest last December in which authorities said Tyson, who has a long history of legal problems, admitted to using cocaine that day and to being addicted to the drug.

He now faces up to three years and nine months in prison for the felony possession charge and up to six months in jail for the misdemeanor DUI count. The 41-year-old boxer is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19.

During a brief appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court, a somber Tyson quickly answered a series of questions by the judge about the plea agreement, responding, "guilty" when asked how he pleaded to each count.

Tyson was arrested in Dec. 29 in Scottsdale, Arizona, after being spotted driving erratically upon leaving a nightclub and nearly colliding with a sheriff's vehicle.