DMX reaches a plea deal in animal cruelty, drug charges
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Rapper DMX, who was arrested in May on drug- and animal cruelty-related charges, has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in the case, E! Online reports. The deal will enable DMX to avoid prosecution on more than a dozen counts involving animal cruelty, drug possession and theft. From E!:
Instead, DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, pleaded guilty Tuesday in a Phoenix court to one count apiece of animal cruelty, theft, marijuana possession and possession of a narcotic, the last three of which are felonies. Sentencing has been set for Jan. 30 in Maricopa County Superior Court. Additional charges will be dismissed at that time but DMX is facing at least 90 days in jail, according to prosecutors.
The May arrest followed a raid on the rap star’s home in which Maricopa, Arizona authorities seized 12 pit bulls who ‘appeared malnourished’ (the bodies of three more dogs were discovered in the yard).
Prior to that, DMX had pleaded guilty to 13 counts of animal cruelty, charges resulting from the neglect of 13 pit bulls, in 2002. (He appeared in a public service announcement about animal abuse as part of his sentence.)
--Lindsay Barnett