Busta Rhymes rejects plea deal

By: Yves Erwin Salomon

Rapper Busta Rhymes was offered a deal on Tuesday, February 20th, that would cover his two pending assault charges. Prosecutors offered Rhymes the option of spending six months behind bars, which he quickly rejected. The Associated Press reports that Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy then offered the rapper the option to plead guilty to third degree assault in exchange for a conditional discharge. Rhymes is currently considering the deal, which would require no jail time.

Rhymes is facing assault charges in two separate cases: The first for beating 39-year-old Edward Hatchett, his former driver, "with a closed fist about the head and neck" and kicking him in the ribs and torso during a dispute over back pay on December 26th at his Manhattan offices; and, the second for allegedly assaulting a fan who spit on his car following an August 12th performance at the AmsterJam Music Festival on Randall's Island.

Assistant District Attorney Harrison Schweiloch had offered Rhymes six months in jail to cover both assaults with orders of protection for the victims but Rhymes is leaning towards Judge Kennedy's offer, which would include five days of community service, two weeks of youth lectures, six months of anger management classes, and three years probation. In six months, the charges would be dropped, but if Rhymes failed to meet the requirements he could receive up to one year behind bars.

Rhymes is currently working on a new album, Before Hell Freezes Over, which he plans to release this summer.