Garcia: I am innocent.
Posted by Chad Edward on April 3rd, 2008“Bad Boy” Leonard Garcia (11-3) posted, “I am innocent,” in a MySpace bulletin this morning.
Garcia has been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and other drug-related crimes stemming from a four-year investigation which included the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Garcia indicated the crimes he’s charged with are alleged to have occurred three years prior and, in an email, admitted “I knew [the other 12 defendants] three years ago. We hung out together.”
Garcia took a break from professional MMA between 2003 and 2006, the time period the alleged crimes are charged to have occurred.
Garcia said he was released on a reconnaissance bond and must remain in Texas until a 5 May court date.
Though Garcia described the WEC as “supportive”, he added, “I will not fight during the trial. Too much emotional things…I might hurt someone or myself during a fight.”
Garcia is coming off the biggest win of his career, a first-round TKO over “Streetfight Bancho” Hiroyuki Takaya (9-5-1) in a return to 145-pounds.
Before the fight, Garcia told me, “I think the move to 145 is important because I don’t feel like I’m out-advantaged right out of the gate.”
Garcia, who told me he fights because, “I love to feel that the only person you have is yourself,” asked for support from MMA fans and promised, “I will get through this mess and make everyone proud of me as I have done before.”
