Report: Rose Owes $150,000 in Back Taxes

<br>CINCINNATI (AP) _ Pete Rose owes $151,690 in federal taxes from 1998, prompting the IRS to get a lien on his condominium in Los Angeles, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Friday. <br><br>California

Friday, January 24th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CINCINNATI (AP) _ Pete Rose owes $151,690 in federal taxes from 1998, prompting the IRS to get a lien on his condominium in Los Angeles, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Friday.

California also filed a lien because Rose owed $2,772 in state taxes from 1997, but the money was later paid, according to the paper.

Both liens were filed with the recorder's office in Los Angeles County, where Rose owns a $1 million condominium.

Rose, who is trying to get a permanent ban for gambling lifted, served a federal prison sentence in 1990 for failing to report income. His accountant said the current problems are different.

``We're dealing with this issue,'' accountant David Stern told the newspaper. ``It is absolutely, 100 percent not related to the stuff that happened in the late '80s and early '90s.''

Stern said Rose wasn't attempting to avoid taxes, but simply couldn't pay the entire amount owed when he filed his 1998 tax return. Stern didn't return a phone message left early Friday.

Baseball's hits king accepted a permanent ban for gambling in 1989. He applied for reinstatement, and has met with commissioner Bud Selig and other baseball officials in recent months to discuss a settlement.

Baseball officials have said that for there to be an agreement, Rose must acknowledge he bet on baseball, an accusation he has publicly denied since he accepted the ban.

In 1990, Rose pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to failing to report income from autograph appearances, memorabilia sales and gambling. He paid the Internal Revenue Service $366,043 in back taxes, interest and penalties.

Rose served five months at a federal prison in Marion, Ill., followed by three months at a halfway house in Cincinnati. He also had to perform 1,500 hours of community service at area schools.