Mystikal Indicted On First-Degree Rape And Could Face Life Sentence
Mystikal has reportedly been indicted on a first-degree rape charge over an alleged July 30 attack at his home near Baton Rouge, and faces a mandatory life sentence if convicted at trial.
According to The Advocate, an Ascension Parish grand jury handed up the sexual assault charge and nine other criminal counts on Tuesday (September 6) against the Grammy nominated New Orleans rapper.
Mystikal, born Michael Lawrence Tyler, is accused of imprisoning, strangling, raping and robbing a woman during a financial dispute at his home in Prairieville. He has also been charged with single counts of simple criminal damage to property, false imprisonment, domestic abuse battery by strangulation, simple robbery, possession of heroin, illegal possession of Xanax, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to two indictments against him.
The 51-year-old rapper remains in Ascension Parish Prison without bail, The Advocate reports. His former attorney has disputed the allegations.
"It's an indictment," Joel Pearce, Mystikal’s new attorney, said Wednesday. "It means nothing. We look forward to our day in court."
Pearce has reportedly been trying to have a hearing to reconsider the bail ruling, however one hasn’t yet been set. The attorney also requested a special pre-trial hearing to examine some of the prosecutors’ case.