New Orleans rapper Mystikal (Michael Tyler) has pleaded not guilty today (September 19) to a number of charges in Louisiana, the AP reports. Tyler entered his plea in Ascension Parish court in Gonzales in response to charges of first-degree rape, domestic abuse battery (strangulation, false imprisonment), drug possession, simple robbery, and simple criminal damage to property. His next hearing will be October 17.
Tyler was first arrested on Sunday, July 31, in Prairieville, Louisiana, and indicted last month; prosecutors allege he raped and choked a woman at his home. The first-degree rape charge carries an automatic life sentence in Louisiana. Tyler is accused of possessing heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and Xanax.
Tyler was previously indicted on rape and kidnapping charges in 2017 and jailed for almost 18 months before being released on $3 million bond. The charges were eventually dropped. In 200 he pleaded guilty to sexual battery and extortion in 2003; he served a prison sentence from 2004 to 2010. He was issued an additional 81 days in jail for violating the terms of his probation in 2012. He was arrested earlier that year on domestic abuse battery.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out for support:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
http://www.rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line
http://www.facebook.com/crisistextline (chat support)
SMS: Text “HERE” to 741-741
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