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Latest Episode Gets Spadafora House Arrest

POSTED: 2:40 pm EDT September 7, 2004
UPDATED: 7:46 pm EDT September 7, 2004

A weekend arrest will not land Paul Spadafora in jail, but it has convinced a judge that the former world light heavyweight boxing champion should be closely monitored while awaiting trial in a more serious case.

Spadafora, known professionally as "The Pittsburgh Kid," was picked up early Sunday morning on charges of disorderly conduct and recklessly endangering another person. He allegedly tried to put a moving car in park while the driver -- his pregnant girlfriend, Nadine Russo -- was heading down Route 358 in Perry, Mercer County, and a state police report says he got out of the vehicle several times "while apparently highly intoxicated."

At the time of his arrest, Spadafora was free on bail and awaiting trial on an attempted homicide charge for allegedly shooting Russo after an argument at a McKees Rocks gas station last October.

Allegheny County prosecutors tried to get Spadafora's bond revoked Tuesday. Instead, Judge Jeffrey Manning put the McKees Rocks native on electronically monitored house arrest and ordered him to undergo random drug and alcohol testing.

Spadafora, 29, of Moon, has posted $50,000 bond in the shooting case and will be released after posting $10,000 bond for the Sunday arrest. He may petition to have his house arrest transferred to Erie County, where he had been training before learning that his injured left elbow will require surgery.

Russo

In February, Spadafora was convicted of disorderly conduct and public intoxication for urinating on a street in downtown Pittsburgh. The incident happened two days before Russo was shot.

During an April interview with Channel 4 Action News, Spadafora said he had been treated at a rehabilitation center and was staying sober.

Defense attorney William Difenderfer said Russo never felt endangered during the alleged incident Sunday, and Spadafora's manager, Al McCauley, said Russo still wants to be with the fighter.


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