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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Miller fight may still go on

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

A mixed-martial arts fighter facing a felony charge in Hawai'i and probation revocation in Georgia is still tentatively scheduled to fight in a bout scheduled for next month, according to the event promoter.

Jason "Mayhem" Miller, a 25-year-old mixed-martial arts fighter, was arrested Dec. 17 after he allegedly kicked down the door of his ex-girlfriend's Nu'uanu apartment and attacked her new boyfriend. He was charged with first-degree burglary, a class "B" felony, and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Friday.

"We are still trying to make some decisions with that (the Feb. 18 fight)," said T. Jay Thompson, president of Icon Promotions, organizers of the Icon Sport bout between Miller and Robby Lawler at Blaisdell Arena. "We are going to support Jason the best way we know how, but we want to be responsible for his actions. As of this moment, the event is on."

Thompson, who signed Miller to a five-fight deal last year, said there is no "criminal clause" in the contract that would nullify the deal if Miller is convicted in Hawai'i or jailed in Georgia.

If convicted in Hawai'i, Miller faces a maximum of up to 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Complicating matters for Miller is the fact that he is serving five years' probation in Atlanta after pleading guilty to aggravated battery in connection with an Oct. 24, 2003 incident in which he broke a man's nose. Miller pled guilty to aggravated battery and was sentenced in November 2004, according to Erik Friedly, spokesman for the Fulton County District attorney's office.

Thompson and Miller's attorney, David Hayakawa, said Miller has informed the Fulton County District attorney's office and his probation officer about the arrest in Hawai'i.

It is not clear if Miller faces jail time if a judge deems he violated his probation.

"I understand my client has a case in Atlanta that he is on probation for. We are working with Mr. Miller's Atlanta attorney," Hayakawa said.

Miller has been "cooperating fully," Hayakawa said and is awaiting word from his probation officer in Atlanta.

Miller, who lives in Las Vegas, was arrested Dec. 17 after his 26-year-old ex-girlfriend said a man, identified by police as Miller, broke into her apartment at 5 a.m. on Dec. 16.

The woman told police that after being awakened by 15 to 20 minutes of incessant knocking, Miller kicked "the front door frame from its hinges," according to court documents.

Miller stormed into the apartment, where he was met by the woman's new boyfriend.

A fight between the two commenced during which Miller allegedly bit the man on his right bicep and scratched him on the right side of his forehead, according to the court document. The man fighting Miller also sustained an abrasion to his right bicep, a contusion to the left side of his forehead, and an abrasion to his right leg.

Miller escaped through a fire escape. He later turned himself in at the Kalihi police station.

Miller was one of two mixed-martial arts fighters to run afoul of the law last year year in Honolulu.

On May 8, B.J. Penn, 26, was arrested outside the Zanzabar Night Club in Waikiki after he allegedly hit Richardson Oscar Pouoa, a uniformed police officer who was on a special-duty assignment at a party for the participants of the "Rumble on the Rock 7."

Penn is scheduled to go to trial Monday.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.