ASAP Rock faces jail time for turning down a plea in a firearms case

After turning down a plea bargain, A$AP Rocky may receive a “significant prison sentence.”

The 36-year-old rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The charges relate to an alleged assault on his former friend A$AP Relli, also known as Terell Ephron, in November 2021.

Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec informed Judge Mark S. Arnold during the hearing that his office had offered a plea deal with 180 days in county jail if the “Multiply” hitmaker entered a guilty plea to the first count of assault with a semi-automatic firearm. The agreement also included 480 hours of community service, a 52-week anger management program, three years of probation, and a seven-year suspended jail term. However, he stated that if the star was found guilty, the maximum penalty was 24 years in prison, so he intended to push for at least 10 to 12 years.

According to Rolling Stone, Rocky, who has two boys with girlfriend Rihanna, responded, “Yeah, they spoke to me about it detail, Your Honor,” when asked if he had discussed the agreement with his staff. Thank you, but I politely decline.

“You will not receive any preferential treatment,” the judge informed him. Neither your reputation as an entertainer nor your status as Rihanna’s significant other will do you any good or harm.

“You know that you will be placed under arrest and that you will probably receive a lengthy jail term if found guilty?”

“Yes, Your Honor, I’m well aware,” Rocky said.

The “Praise the Lord” hitmaker’s attorney argued during the hearing that he was only carrying a “prop gun,” not a loaded pistol, on the night of the incident. Terell also claimed that they were fighting because Rocky had allegedly broken a promise to pay for another friend’s funeral, and that Terell had staged the shooting and a grazing injury in order to coerce the rapper into paying for it.

In order to convince jurors that the rapper frequently carried a prop gun after being “the victim of prior violence and stalker home invasions,” the defense intended to call in A$AP Twelvyy, also known as Jamel Da’Shawn Phillips, who was present on the night of the altercation, and Rocky’s tour manager.

Prosecutors asserted that they were only informed about the “fake gun” defense the evening before the trial.

It’s a new defense that has never been brought up before, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin informed the court.

It is a direct ambush. This witness [account] is not a small one. This is their entire case. This witness’s testimony serves as the foundation for their entire case.

“I don’t think it’s fair that you waited this long to disclose the starter pistol, if that’s central to your defense,” the judge said, declining to strike the witnesses.