Beanie
Sigel’s probation lengthened by JudgeProsecutors
extended probation for Philadelphia rapper Beanie Sigel yesterday (Feb. 21), due
to what a prosecutor deemed a “technical violation” of his supervised
release on gun and drug charges, stemming from a police chase in April of 2003.According
to the Philadelphia Daily News, Sigel, 32, failed to inform his probation officer
that he was recently stopped twice by Philadelphia police while in the company
of convicted felons. The rapper also tested positive for codeine and morphine
in a Dec. drug test.The
offenses led U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick to extend the term of Sigel’s
probation, set to finish this summer, until early next year.Sigel
was pulled over by Philadelphia police in April 2003 because his vehicle’s
license plate was covered. Soon
after being stopped, Sigel sped off; inciting a chase where he threw a .45-caliber
semi-automatic pistol out of his car, which later, was found to be stolen. After
police ended the chase they discovered a variety of prescription drugs and a small
bag of marijuana in Sigel’s car.Sigel
was sentenced to a year in prison and a fine of $25,000 by Judge R. Barclay Surrick,
who granted him some leniency for his “post-arrest rehabilitation” and
charitable works in the urban community. Because
of his guilty plea to the charges Sigel originally faced a sentence of 37 months
in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.