Champion Boxer Enters Plea of No Contest in Gallery Burglary

One of the top middleweight boxers in the world pleaded no contest Thursday in Van Nuys Municipal Court to misdemeanor charges of burglarizing a Sherman Oaks art gallery and then threatening the shop’s owner to prevent his testimony in court.

Frank Liles, a 28-year-old Sherman Oaks man who is the North American Boxing Assn. super-middleweight champion, was placed on three years probation and ordered to perform 2,500 hours of volunteer service with a children’s organization.

“They need what you have to give them . . . more than we need to have you in jail,” said Municipal Court Judge Michael Luros.

According to Liles’ attorney, Michael Goossen, the boxer entered the no contest plea--the practical equivalent of a guilty plea in a criminal court--only because prosecutors agreed to reduce the two felony charges to misdemeanors.

“He believes in his total innocence,” Goossen said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Pamela Davis-Springer said she agreed to the plea bargain after recognizing Liles’ ability to act as a role model to young people during his lengthy community service.

Liles will serve also five days in a jail facility during two weekends over the next three months.

Liles was charged with breaking into the Orlando Gallery at 14554 Ventura Blvd. on Feb. 16 and stealing a small statue of a nude woman.

A security guard saw the burglar load the foot-tall statue into a gold Mercedes-Benz, which Liles was entering when he was arrested about an hour after the crime, police said.

The witness-intimidation charge stems from a phone call made to the gallery’s owner the next day. The caller threatened the shopkeeper and offered to return the statue if he did not press charges, authorities said. The statue was found the following day in an alley behind the store.

Luros said that if Liles successfully completes his probation and community service sentence, then he can return to court and have this case removed from his record.