Prison Escapee Who Fought in TV Bout Is Sentenced to Another Two Years

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — A professional boxer who escaped from the state prison camp at Rifle, Colo., three years ago and was arrested last summer after fighting in a nationally televised bout was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday.

District Judge Thomas Ossola imposed the sentence on John Edward Garcia, who pleaded guilty to a charge of escape.

Garcia also had his name changed legally Tuesday to Roberto Medina, the name he has used since his escape.

Medina was arrested July 20 in Norfolk, Va., after a nationally televised fight with 1984 Olympic gold medalist Meldrick Taylor.

Denver police were tipped anonymously a week before the fight that Medina was Garcia. Norfolk police made the arrest after the six-round bout won by Taylor.

Medina was sentenced to seven to nine years in prison in 1979 on convictions of forgery, burglary and violation of parole in Denver.

It was his second prison term. In 1982 he escaped from the state prison camp at Rifle and moved to St. Petersburg, Fla., where he began a career in boxing.

Defense attorney Jersey Green said Medina would be eligible to appear before the parole board by March 1987.