Mystikal, a Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist, is due to be arraigned on allegations of raping, strangling, and unlawfully having drugs at his Louisiana home. The artist will be charged with first-degree rape, which carries a mandatory life sentence if Tyler is found guilty, at his arraignment on Monday. Joel Pearce, the lawyer, stated in a text message on Thursday that his client is “innocent of all charges.” He asserted that the rapper, whose real name is Michael Tyler, is “the true victim” and that a court order protecting him from the woman was in place.
Tyler has been detained without bond since the end of July, and Pearce expressed his expectation that he will be permitted to present evidence in support of bond. On August 4, a judge rejected bond, but Pearce—who at the time did not represent the performer—said it was not a proper bond hearing that would have allowed Tyler to present evidence in his favour. The victim was allegedly choked and raped at Tyler’s home in Prairieville, an Ascension Parish village of about 33,000 people close to Baton Rouge, on July 31.
Pearce expressed his expectation that he would be permitted to present Tyler’s bond-supporting evidence since Tyler had been detained without bond since the end of July. On August 4, a judge rejected bond, but Pearce, who didn’t then represent the performer, claimed it wasn’t a thorough court hearing where Tyler could have presented evidence to support his case. Tyler was detained on July 31 on suspicion of choking and raping the woman at his residence in Prairieville, an area in Ascension Parish with a population of around 33,000 people close to Baton Rouge.
