Courts say Jackson must behave

If Ultimate Fighting Championship athlete Quinton “Rampage” Jackson maintains good physical and mental health, and speaks to kids about nutrition and exercise, he can avoid jail time for hitting three cars in Costa Mesa and fleeing police, attorneys said Thursday.

As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, Jackson pleaded guilty in Orange County Superior Court on Thursday to one felony count of evading a peace officer and driving against traffic, and one misdemeanor count of driving recklessly.

Jackson, who is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 7, 2010, could receive up to six months in jail and probation, according to the terms of the deal. Before he is sentenced, Jackson is required to complete 200 hours of community service, get mental health therapy, and pay restitution to the people he hit with his car, prosecutors said.

“Our role is to prosecute people for the crimes they commit. We feel that the negotiated plea agreement and these therapy sessions” will deal with any issues Jackson has, said Farrah Emami, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.

“It is the opinion of his doctors that Quinton suffered a brief episode of delirium” triggered by his diet and stressors in his life, his attorney, Carol Lavacot said. “He is learning to manage the stressors in his life and has been working with a nutritionist to maintain his physical as well as his mental health.”

Leading up to his arrest Jackson, who has trained in Huntington Beach, had recently lost his light-heavyweight belt to Forrest Griffin in a major upset in Las Vegas and had just split with his longtime trainer.

Jackson was driving south on the 55 Freeway in Costa Mesa on July 15 in his lifted 2008 Ford truck when he drove up on the curb and sideswiped two vehicles where traffic slowed at the 55 and 19th St., according to authorities. He continued driving south on Newport Boulevard, prosecutors said. Costa Mesa police picked up the trail nearby when an officer saw Jackson weaving through traffic while talking on the cellphone, authorities said. The truck by that time had a flat tire.

Jackson collided with a Toyota Camry as he kept weaving through traffic while the police gave chase, prosecutors said. The truck then swerved into the center median, going the wrong way into oncoming traffic, and then veered up on the curb just missing a bus stop and sending several pedestrians scrambling, according to prosecutors.

Still, Jackson kept going as police chased him, according to prosecutors, until he was arrested on Balboa Boulevard in Newport Beach.

Jackson was not under the influence of any controlled substances, but examinations showed he was suffering from delirium, prosecutors said.

Days after his arrest, Jackson was taken to the hospital by Irvine police who took him from his home after they deemed he was a danger to himself and others.