Chicago Rapper Chief Keef Jailed on Probation Violation
It seems that rapper Chief Keef just can't stay out of trouble, because he was back in jail Tuesday for violating the terms of his probation.
Last January, the Chicago-based rapper whose real name is Keith Cozart was sentenced to 18 months' probation after he was convicted of pointing a gun at a police officer. As part of his probation, Keef was ordered to stay away from drugs, gangs, and guns.
But it appears that Keef just couldn't stay away from firearms. The prosecution had video proof to show the judge.
Somehow, prosecutors got hold of a video showing Chief Keef at a shooting range. The tape was shot back in June, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
It was part of a promotional video for Chief Keef, and showed him in a controlled gun safety class and then shooting at the range. But it happened while he was on probation.
His lawyer argued that the shooting didn't violate the spirit of the probation terms, since Chief Keef wasn't carrying a gun in public. But the judge decided that "no guns" includes guns at private shooting ranges, or really anywhere.
Judge Carl Anthony Walker wasn't impressed with Chief Keef's defense, noting that he thought the rapper was disrespecting the court by going to the range at all.
Chief Keef kept silent while he was cuffed and led away, but his manager told the press to "kiss my a--." That's certainly not going to help Keef's relationship with his probation officer.
When a court puts someone on probation, that person is also assigned a probation officer. The officer checks in and makes sure there aren't violations of probation. The terms of probation limit what you can do.
Even if something would normally be legal, like shooting at a range, it's illegal for you if it's against the terms of your probation. No one except the court can give you special permission.
To make the probation easier, it's important to stay on your probation officer's good side. Violating probation won't help that. Neither will lying to your probation officer, something Chief Keef was also accused of at the hearing.
A court will now have to decide how much time Chief Keef will spend behind bars for this violation. Sorry fans, but it looks like his recording schedule will be running a bit behind.
Related Resources:
- Chief Keef in Jail for Violating Probation (Rolling Stone)
- Chief Keef's Probation Violation: Rapper May Head Back to Jail (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)
- Probation FAQ (FindLaw)
- More questions about probation? Ask our experts (FindLaw Answers)