Hey everyone...

Jose was finally released from jail yesterday, when prosecutors dropped the
charges alleging that he violated his probation by taking steroids. He
will remain under house arrest until his probation ends in March of 2004 (I
actually thought it was longer than that, but that's what the papers are
saying).

The latest news is below.

-Mark


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From Court TV.com:
Canseco stays jailed while lawyers cram for steroid science
By Harriet Ryan
Tuesday, July 22, 2003

(Court TV) -- Former All-Star slugger Jose Canseco will remain behind bars
while his lawyers take more time to prepare a defense to the charge that he
used steroids while serving house arrest for a nightclub assault, a Miami
judge ruled Monday.

While the beefy outfielder, handcuffed and wearing an orange prison
jumpsuit and goatee, looked on quietly from the defense table, his lawyers
told Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Leonard Glick they needed more time to
acquaint themselves with the science behind drug tests that detected the
steroid Stanozol last month.

"We have no idea what we're talking about on this side of the table," said
lawyer Jose Quinon, who described his recent crash course in drug
metabolisms as "a nightmare experience."

After allowing brief testimony from a lab pathologist, Glick postponed
further testimony until August 26.

If the judge finds the former league MVP violated the terms of his house
arrest by using a controlled substance, he could be sentenced to up to 15
years in prison.

Canseco pleaded guilty in November to aggravated battery in a one-sided
fight with two conventioneers at a South Beach hotspot. He was originally
sentenced to three years probation, but after missing a court appearance,
Glick ordered him to serve two years under house arrest.

In June, after a urine screening indicated steroid use, the judge threw
Canseco in jail.

Canseco's lawyers have acknowledged he used the performance-enhancing drugs
in the past, but deny he was using them while under house arrest. In court
Monday, they appeared to suggest the test may have detected drug use before
his home confinement.

Dr. James Shipe, the Virginia forensic pathologist who tested Canseco's
urine, testified, however, that steroids injected in muscle tissue linger a
maximum of eight weeks in the body.

Canseco gained notoriety after his 2001 retirement by asserting that 85
percent of pro baseball players relied on performance-enhancing drugs.

Glick denied several requests by Quinon and co-counsel Jayne Weintraub to
have Canseco freed on bail. The judge released Canseco for five days
earlier this month to spend time with his 6-year-old daughter, Josie.

Canseco's ex-wife, Jessica, was on hand Monday in hopes the judge would
allow a similar furlough. Glick refused to do so, prompting Jessica Canseco
to burst into tears.

Canseco's twin brother, Ozzie, who was involved in the nightclub fight and
entered a similar plea, also appeared in court Monday. He is likewise
accused of violating the terms of his plea by using steroids. His hearing
was postponed after his new lawyer asked Judge Glick to recuse himself from
the case because of a past conflict.

==========
From the AP:
Canseco leaves jail after probation violation charge is dropped
August 25, 2003

MIAMI (AP) -- Jose Canseco was released from jail Monday after prosecutors
dropped charges alleging the former baseball star violated his probation by
taking steroids.

Assistant State Attorney Kathleen Hoague said the state could not determine
when Canseco took the muscle-enhancing drug because of conflicting expert
testimony on how long it would stay in his system.

Canseco had been behind bars since June 20, when probation officials said
he tested positive for steroids. He has denied any drug use while on
probation.

``It was a very painful, stressful situation for my daughter, my family and
myself,'' Canseco said Monday. ``It feels good to be out.''

Canseco, 39, could have faced up to 15 years in state prison.

The 1988 American League MVP has been on probation since November, when he
pleaded guilty to aggravated battery for a 2001 nightclub fight with two
tourists. His probation is scheduled to end in March 2004.

Canseco spent 30 days in jail and was sentenced to house arrest earlier
this year because he took a trip to California without court permission and
didn't meet other probation terms. He says he made the trip because he
wanted to reconcile with his ex-wife and 6-year-old daughter.

Canseco helped lead the Oakland Athletics to three straight World Series
appearances from 1988-90. Oakland won the 1989 series.

He hit 462 home runs in his major league career, the 26th-best in history.
He retired in May 2002 after 1,887 games with seven teams, finishing his
career with a .266 batting average, 1,407 RBIs and 200 stolen bases.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Canseco has admitted using steroids during his
baseball career.

Canseco's twin brother, Ozzie, who briefly played in the majors, was also
sentenced to probation stemming from the nightclub scuffle in Miami Beach.

==========
From the AP:
Canseco leaves jail

MIAMI (AP) - Jose Canseco left jail Monday after prosecutors dropped
charges that the former baseball star violated his probation by taking
steroids.

Assistant State Attorney Kathleen Hoague said the state could not determine
if Canseco took steroids while on probation because of conflicting expert
testimony on when he allegedly took the muscle-enhancing drug.

Canseco, who had denied any drug use while on probation, shook the hand of
his lawyer, Jayne Weintraub, after the state announced its decision.

"It was a very painful, stressful situation for my daughter, my family and
myself," Canseco said. "It feels good to be out."

Canseco, 39, could have faced up to 15 years in state prison. He and his
father, Jose Canseco Sr., criticized prosecutors for keeping him in jail
for more than two months on charges which eventually were dropped.

"That was unfair, unjust. That was uncalled for," Canseco Sr. said.

The 1988 American League MVP has been on probation since November after
pleading guilty to felony aggravated battery for a 2001 Miami Beach
nightclub fight with two tourists. His probation is scheduled to end in
March 2004.

Canseco was arrested June 20 after state officials said he tested positive
for steroids while on house arrest for an earlier probation violation. He
will continue serving the terms of the house arrest and probation.

Canseco spent 30 days in jail and sentenced to house arrest early this year
because he took a trip to California without court permission and failed to
meet other probation terms. He says he made the trip because he wants to
reconcile with his ex-wife and 6-year-old daughter.

"All he wants to do is see his daughter," Weintraub said.

Canseco's attorneys had argued that it was unclear whether he took the
steroids during his probation. Experts presented conflicting testimony on
how long the steroids could stay in Canseco's system.

Canseco helped lead the Oakland Athletics to three straight World Series
appearances from 1988-90. Oakland won the 1989 series.

He hit 462 home runs in his major league career, the 26th-best in history.
He retired in May 2002 after 1,887 games with seven teams, finishing his
career with a .266 batting average, 1,407 RBI and 200 stolen bases.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Canseco has admitted using steroids during his
baseball career and claimed that 85% of all other major leaguers have taken
the muscle-enhancing drugs. He announced plans to reveal baseball's steroid
secrets in a still-unpublished book.

While confined to his house, Canseco charged people $2,500 each through his
personal Web site to "Spend the Day with Jose." Autographed balls and
posters also were for sale.

Canseco's twin brother Ozzie, who briefly played in the majors, was also
sentenced to probation stemming from the nightclub fight. He faces his own
probation violation charge after he was arrested in May when a Charlotte
County sheriff's deputy allegedly found illegal anabolic steroids in his
vehicle during a traffic stop.