Rapper A$AP Rocky Rejects Plea Deal Ahead of Trial
Rocky Rejects Six-Month Sentence and Three-Year Probation Offer
Rakim Mayers, better known by his musical pseudonym A$AP Rocky, rejected a plea deal on Tuesday afternoon ahead of his trial. The offer included six months behind bars, three years of probation, and a suspended seven-year term if he pled guilty to one of the two assault charges against him.
Charges and Allegations
Rocky is charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. He also faces allegations that he used a firearm during a confrontation with Terell Ephron on November 6, 2021. He was not formally charged until August 2022.
Defense Strategy
Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, said at a hearing on Tuesday that the defense plans to call witnesses who will testify that the gun was a starter pistol that the rapper carried as a prop for security reasons.
Ephron’s Testimony
Ephron originally testified in November 2023 that he saw Rocky outside a parking garage in an encounter where Rocky pulled the gun on him and said, “I’ll kill you right now.” He then followed Rocky after seeing another man in Rocky’s entourage apparently putting a pocket knife away. Ephron believed the rapper had become “big-headed” from his success and that he “failed everybody.”
Jury Selection Begins
The trial began early on Tuesday afternoon with jury selection.
Conclusion
A$AP Rocky’s decision to reject the plea deal suggests that he is confident in his legal team’s strategy and is prepared to face the allegations against him. The trial is expected to be closely watched by fans and the music industry, given Rocky’s high profile as a rapper and his numerous collaborations with other artists.
FAQs
* What is the charge against A$AP Rocky?
+ A$AP Rocky is charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and allegations of using a firearm during a confrontation.
* What is the potential sentence if Rocky is found guilty?
+ If Rocky is found guilty, he could face up to seven years in prison, with a suspended sentence.
* What is the defense’s strategy?
+ The defense plans to call witnesses who will testify that the gun was a starter pistol carried as a prop for security reasons.