ASAP Rocky turned down a 180 days in jail plea deal and could potentially face up to 24 years by taking his case to trial.

[Elim Garak]

This seems very risky.

A$AP Rocky turned down a final prosecution plea offer of 180 days in jail and will face the possibility of a guilty verdict and years in prison as jury selection began at his trial on Tuesday.

The agreement offered to the 36-year-old hip-hop star, fashion mogul and actor whose legal name is Rakim Mayers was to plead guilty to one of his two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Los Angeles County prosecutors would also recommend a seven-year suspended sentence, three years of probation and the six-month jail term.

But Rocky told a judge he respectfully declined.

He is accused of firing at a former friend near a Hollywood hotel in 2021, and could get a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty.

Rocky's attorney Joe Tacopina also revealed in court Tuesday that the defense plans to call witnesses to testify that a firearm seen on a security video is a "starter pistol" that Rocky carried as a prop for security purposes. The strategy had not been aired at pretrial hearings.

A panel of more than 100 prospective jurors were summoned to the downtown Los Angeles courtroom and packed into the gallery. Opening statements will come once 12 of them and alternates are seated, most likely Wednesday or later.

The Grammy-nominated hip-hop star, fashion mogul and actor whose legal name is Rakim Mayers is the longtime partner of Rihanna, and the two have two toddler sons together. It's not entirely clear whether Rihanna will appear to support him at any point in court, but his attorney has suggested it's unlikely. She did not attend Tuesday's proceedings.

Rocky has been named one of the celebrity chairs of the Met Gala in May, and has a major role in a Spike Lee-directed film with Denzel Washington to be released soon after. But his life could be upended with a conviction.

Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold has said he plans to seat a jury quickly, and is keeping strict limits on how long attorneys can question prospective jurors.

"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 judge is allowing media cameras in court for the entire trial after a jury is selected.

In 2023, another judge ruled after a preliminary hearing that Rocky should stand trial for allegedly firing a gun at Terell Ephron, a childhood friend who testified that their relationship had soured and a feud came to a head on the night of Nov. 6, 2021. Ephron testified that bullets grazed his knuckles.

https://www.wvtm13.com/article/asap-rocky-turns-down-plea-deal-as-trial-opens/63498472

 

[Devilinurear]

Good
Once he is in prison Rhianna will be mine

 

[CouldntBeMeTho]

180 days for shooting at someone is as good as it gets. I'd probably spend half my time in jail if I knew i could do that

 

[Westbama Heartthrob]

Don't be dumb

 

[CarltonJunior]

I think he thinks he knows what he's doing.

But that doesn't mean anything. Might be curtains for this nikka.

 

[ThrobbingHood]

Is his lawyer Ben Crump?

 

[Elim Garak]

Good
Once he is in prison Rhianna will be mine

It's a good chance someone else will be fukking her soon. I hope it works out for him, bur idk.

 

[CouldntBeMeTho]

Don't be dumb

He can move forward with trial and still take the deal if it's not looking good.

 

[Hopeofmypeople]

I think he thinks he knows what he's doing.

But that doesn't mean anything. Might be curtains for this nikka.

Just like Tory Lanez…right?






Don’t know who is advising these nikkas.

 

[T-K-G]

Good
Once he is in prison Rhianna will be mine

A billion sure does a lot


This would be called a struggle twerk if it wasn't her

 

[coldcall]

Who's advising this idiot

Why even take such a chance

 

[Savvir]

Don’t know who is advising these nikkas.

rocky wouldnt last in LA county....

that's probably all he was thinking when he heard the 180 days....

 

[King Poetic]

And the victim still alive?

And there is witnesses and video?

Dumb ass nikka.. take the plea deal and be home with your family with paid security around you 24/7

Simple ass that

 

[Da King]

He said racism didn’t exist so

 

[T-K-G]

He can move forward with trial and still take the deal if it's not looking good.

Can't they take that deal off the table now though?

Yes they'd offer him another plea right before going to verdict but wouldn't they make it a little heavier depending on how confident they are?

Jury could just be in a racist mood and lock em up