Mystikal pleads guilty to third-degree rape, avoiding life sentence but facing up to 20 years ahead of June sentencing hearing.
Mystikal has pleaded guilty to a rape charge stemming from a 2022 incident in Prairieville, Louisiana, avoiding a potential life sentence but still facing significant prison time.
The rapper, whose real name is Michael Tyler, entered a guilty plea to third-degree rape on Tuesday. He is scheduled to return to court in June for sentencing, where he could receive up to 20 years in prison.
Since his arrest in 2022, Mystikal has remained in custody without bond.
The case originated after a woman accused Mystikal of assaulting her inside his home. According to authorities, the victim reported the incident at a hospital, where she was found to have visible injuries and was described as highly distressed.
She later identified Mystikal as the suspect, leading to his arrest.
Prosecutors had initially charged Mystikal with a series of more severe offenses, including first-degree rape, simple robbery, domestic abuse battery and false imprisonment. Those charges carried the possibility of life in prison, and a trial had been scheduled to begin on March 30.
However, the guilty plea resulted in a deal that reduced the severity of the charges.
In her account to investigators, the woman alleged that Mystikal choked, beat and raped her after taking her keys and phone, preventing her from leaving the residence. She also described the rapper as exhibiting erratic behavior during the incident, alternating between violent outbursts and apologies.
Authorities said she sought medical attention immediately after escaping.
Law enforcement officials stated that the victim’s injuries were consistent with her claims. A spokesperson for the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office previously confirmed that the victim was able to identify Mystikal during the investigation.
This marks the latest in a series of legal issues for Mystikal. In 2003, he was convicted of sexual assault and extortion, resulting in a six-year prison sentence and a requirement to register as a sex offender.
Additional legal troubles in the years since have continued to impact his career.
Despite his legal history, Mystikal achieved commercial success in the early 2000s, with hits including “Shake Ya Ass,” featuring Pharrell Williams, and “Danger (Been So Long),” featuring Nivea, both of which reached the top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
