Busta Rhymes rejected
a plea bargain offered by prosecutors today (Feb. 20) in Manhattan Criminal Court.
The
rapper, who is facing two assault charges, is accused of kicking and punching
former driver Edward Hatchett in a dispute over back pay on Dec. 26, 2006.He’s
also accused of assaulting 19-year-old Robert Lebron, a fan who allegedly spit
on the rapper’s Maybach, after an Aug 12, 2006 concert on Randall’s Island. Prosecutors,
who labeled the animated rapper a "violent predicate felon," offered
Rhymes six months in jail for the two assault charges, which he rejected. According
to reports, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy said Rhymes could plead
guilty to third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.If
Rhymes accepts Judge Kennedy’s offer, the rapper would be required to serve five
days of community service, two weeks of youth lectures and six months of anger
management classes. Once
successfully completing the terms of the sentencing, all charges against Rhymes,
34, will be dismissed. If the rapper violates his probation, he could be sent
to prison for a year. Police
are still attempting to question Busta Rhymes about the Feb. 2006 shooting death
of his bodyguard Israel Ramirez. Ramirez
was shot and killed on set of Rhymes’ "Touch It (Remix) video shoot. Police
believe an argument between G-Unit’s Tony Yayo and Ruff Ryders’ Swizz Beatz sparked
the deadly shooting. Police
believe Rhymes may have witnessed the shooting and has refused to cooperate. Tony
Yayo also refused to submit to questioning until he is charged with a crime.
