Tapia denied petition for release

SUPREME COURT REJECTS A PLEA FROM FORMER WORLD CHAMPION BOXER JOHNNY TAPIA TO LET HIM OUT OF P...  More »

SUPREME COURT REJECTS A PLEA FROM FORMER WORLD CHAMPION BOXER JOHNNY TAPIA TO LET HIM OUT OF PRISON -- EVEN THOUGH TAPIA HAS ALREADY SERVED NEARLY THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE WAS SENTENCED TO... CRIS ORNELAS IS HERE WITH WHAT TODAY'S DECISION MEANS FOR THE FIGHTER. ON APRIL FIRST A JUDGE SENTENCED TAPIA TO 9 DAYS IN PRISON AFTER HIS PROBATION OFFICER FOUND COCAINE IN HIS HOME. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RELEASED APRIL 10TH SO HE COULD FIGHT -- THEN APPEAR ON A REALITY T-V SHOW BEFORE CHECKING INTO A REHAB FACILITY. BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SAYS EVERY PRISONER NEEDS TO HAVE A PAROLE PLAN BEFORE THEY'RE RELEASED. THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT CAN TAKE 60 DAYS TO FORMULATE THAT PLAN. TAPIA ASKED THE SUPREME COURT TO LET HIM OUT -- SAYING HE'S ALREADY DONE HIS TIME -- BUT THE COURT DENIED THE REQUEST TODAY. TAPIA'S FAMILY WAS SHOCKED WHEN WE TOLD THEM ABOUT THE RULING -- AND SAY TAPIA PROBABLY IS TOO. 'last night he was all excited i might come home he was all happy i'm coming home he was talking to his sons his little baby nico was all yeah daddy's coming home' THE FAMILY SAYS THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED AND ANGRY ABOUT TODAY'S DECISION. THEY BELIEVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS TREATING TAPIA UNFAIRLY BECAUSE OF HIS CELEBRITY. TAPIA'S PAROLE HEARING HAS BEEN SET FOR MAY 12TH.  « Less