Courthouse Fire Delays Sentencing for Rap Superstar Lil' Wayne
Rap star Lil' Wayne gets another false start.
The rapper had been expected to start a one-year jail term but his sentencing was delayed yet again due to a courthouse fire.
According to the Associated Press, his sentencing was postponed for a second time because of a basement courthouse fire in Lower Manhattan.
As previously discussed, his Feb. 9 sentencing was put on temporary hold due to dental surgery. He reportedly had eight root canals in one day.
The 27-year-old rapper pleaded guilty in October to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, as previously discussed.
The charge stemmed from a 2007 New York traffic stop of his tour bus where a loaded .40 semi-automatic was found in a Louis Vuitton bag.
New York's gun and weapons are among the toughest in the country. Simple possession of a concealed handgun carries jail time.
Lil Wayne plead guilty to second-degree attempted weapon possession, a felony. Under his plea deal he was sentenced to 12 months but could serve as little as 8 months with good behavior.
A new sentencing date was not immediately given.
Lil Wayne is also still facing charges in Arizona, where his trial is set to begin there March 30.
In January 2008, he was arrested by DEA agents and was charged with one count each of felony possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Lil' Wayne's final pre-incarceration performance was at the Grammy awards with rappers Drake and Eminem.
His latest album Rebirth hit the shelves on Feb. 2 and has since received mixed reviews.
The rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. has plans to ensure he does not fade from the spotlight while serving his jail term.
His eighth studio album, Tha Carter IV, is scheduled to drop soon after he's released in early 2011.
- Lil Wayne Sentencing Is Postponed Again (New York Times)
- Rapper ventures into rock before heading to jail for possession (duclarion.com)
- Even Prison Won't Stop Lil' Wayne from Putting Out New Music (People)
- How Will My Sentence be Decided? (in FAQ) (provided by The Law Office of David T. Schlendorf)