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The man Mike Tyson filmed striking on a plane has a criminal record, according to Florida state records dating back to 2008.
Melvin Townsend III was convicted of fraud, grand larceny, burglary, possession of controlled substances, and trafficking in stolen property.
The 36-year-old was also in custody for 20 months in 2009 and again for 15 months in 2019.
Mike Tyson and Melvin Townsend III (L: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images R: Florida Dept. of Corrections)
Tyson was filmed attacking Townsend on a JetBlue flight from San Francisco to Miami last Thursday. The man and his companion reportedly molested Tyson several minutes before the incident.
Police have not filed any charges in connection with the incident and the man’s attorney, Matt Morgan, argues Tyson should have contacted a flight attendant.
MAN WHO WAS BEATEN BY MIKE TYSON ON PLANE WAS A “OVERFUL FAN,” SAYS ATTORNEY
“At first, their interaction was cordial,” Morgan told NBC. “At one point Mr Tyson got agitated by an overly excited fan and started hitting him.”
Britain’s Tyson Fury, left, takes aim at Britain’s Dillian Whyte during their WBC title fight at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Ian Walton) (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
“This situation could have been avoided simply by contacting a flight attendant,” he added. “To state the obvious, as one of the greatest fighters of all time, Mr Tyson should have known not to use his hands on an overly excited fan.”
The man also reportedly threw a bottle of water at Tyson before their brawl, although he denies having done so.
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Although the man has not filed any charges regarding the incident, Tyson could have faced a felony over the scuffle, Chicago-based attorney Andrew Stoltmann told Fox News Digital.
Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.