NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Grammy-nominated rapper Mystikal has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of raping and choking a woman at his Louisiana home and of possessing several drugs.
Attorney Joel Pearce says the 51-year-old performer whose given name is Michael Tyler is innocent of all charges. Tyler entered the pleas on Monday in Ascension Parish court in Gonzales.
Pearce says he has not been able to get copies of the two indictments, but they were read in court.
Pearce says the next hearing is on Oct. 17, and prosecutors said they plan to bring up Tyler's 2003 guilty plea to sexual battery as evidence of prior crimes.