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PITTSBURGH -- Former lightweight boxing champion Paul
Spadafora can't participate in the state Department of Corrections'
boot camp program, prison officials decided. Spadafora, who is serving time for shooting his now-fiancee in
2003, could have been paroled before the end of the year if he had
been admitted to the six-month program. But now, he must complete a
violence-prevention program before he can be considered for the
boot camp again, said DOC spokeswoman Sheila Moore. Spadafora pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and a weapons
violation in December for shooting Nadine Russo in the abdomen on
Oct. 26, 2003, because he was upset she had flattened two tires on
his sport utility vehicle. The couple has since become engaged and
had a child, Geno. Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey A. Manning in February sentenced
Spadafora to 21 months to five years in prison. But Manning also recommended the boxer for boot camp. A prison evaluation, which was released last month, showed
Spadafora needs to complete the violence-prevention program, Moore
said. The boot-camp program in Clearfield County combines
military-like discipline with physical and classroom activities.
The violence-prevention program includes anger-management classes. If Spadafora completes the violence-prevention program at the
State Correctional Institution-Camp Hill, he could reapply for the
boot camp in December and be paroled in June 2006, Moore said. Without the program, Spadafora, 29, would be eligible for parole
in April 2006.
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