Honk News (Los Angeles, CA) – A$AP Rocky rejected a last plea deal that would have resulted in 180 days behind bars and is now facing the potential for a guilty verdict and several years in prison as jury selection commenced at his trial on Tuesday.
The proposal extended to the 36-year-old music icon, style entrepreneur, and performer, known legally as Rakim Mayers, involved a guilty plea to one of the two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Prosecutors in Los Angeles County are suggesting a suspended sentence of seven years, along with three years of probation and a six-month jail term.
However, Rocky informed the judge that he politely declined.
A former friend was allegedly shot at by him near a Hollywood hotel in 2021, and he faces a potential maximum prison sentence of 24 years if found guilty. He has entered a plea of not guilty.
In court on Tuesday, Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina disclosed that the defense intends to bring in witnesses to assert that the firearm captured in a security video is merely a “starter pistol” that Rocky used as a prop for security reasons. The approach had not been presented during the pretrial hearings.
A gathering of over 100 potential jurors was called to the downtown Los Angeles courtroom, filling the gallery to capacity. Opening statements are expected to begin once all 12 jurors and alternates are in place, likely on Wednesday or later.
The acclaimed hip-hop artist, fashion icon, and actor known as Rakim Mayers has been in a long-term relationship with Rihanna, and together they are parents to two young sons. There is uncertainty surrounding Rihanna’s potential presence in court to show her support, although his attorney has indicated that it seems improbable. She was absent from the proceedings on Tuesday.
Rocky has been appointed as one of the celebrity chairs for the upcoming gala in May and is set to star in a highly anticipated film directed by Spike Lee alongside Denzel Washington, which is expected to premiere shortly thereafter. However, a conviction could completely disrupt his life.
Judge Mark Arnold of the Superior Court has announced his intention to expedite the jury selection process, imposing tight restrictions on the duration of questioning for potential jurors by attorneys.
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“Mr. Mayers is an entertainer. His stage name is A$AP Rocky. His life partner is also an entertainer. Her name is Rihanna,” Arnold told the prospective jurors. Because Mr. Mayers is an entertainer, a celebrity, that cannot harm him, and it cannot benefit him.”
The court has decided to permit media cameras throughout the entire trial once the jury has been chosen.
In 2023, a judge made a decision following a preliminary hearing that Rocky would face trial for reportedly discharging a firearm at Terell Ephron, a long-time friend who stated that their friendship had deteriorated and a conflict escalated on the evening of November 6, 2021. Ephron recounted that bullets skimmed across his knuckles.