Mystikal Pleads Not Guilty to Rape, Kidnapping Charges

Roughly four months after turning himself in to authorities for rape and kidnapping charges, Mystikal, born name Michael Lawrence Tyler, has pleaded not guilty.

According to KSLA News, the 46-year-old rapper, who was hit with one count of first-degree rape and another for second-degree kidnapping, entered his not guilty plea on Monday (Dec. 18). Mystikal has been held in Caddo Correctional Center since turning himself in on Aug. 21.

The charges stem from a woman accusing Mystikal and Averweone Holman of raping and kidnapping her at Sam's Town Casino on Oct. 22, 2016. Holman has been hit with the same charges as Mystikal and both had their bail set at $3 million.

According to Ark La Tex, Mystikal was originally supposed to be arraigned in September and November but showed up both times without a lawyer. Because of that, Caddo District Judge Ramona Emanuel continued the arraignment. Last month, Mystikal secured the services of New Orleans-based attorney, Timothy Yazbeck, who was with him in court Monday. Yazbeck will push for Mystikal's bond to be reduced to $2 million at his next hearing.

Also, hit with charges relating to this case is 42-year-old Texas woman Tenichia Monieck Wafford, who actually alleged that Mystikal and Holman's accuser had been lying to cover up for cheating on her boyfriend. Wafford herself has been charged with one count of obstruction of justice after allegedly trying to get the accuser to drop her charges.

"She trying to protect her boyfriend because she ditched him all night to be with another nigga," Wafford said a few months ago. "You know what I'm saying? And now, all of a sudden, somebody hurt her, but when I called her and asked her if somebody hurt her, she said ain't nobody hurt her. So now, all of a sudden, I got a charge because I called her—I called a friend—to ask her, 'Are you okay? Did you hear what's going on?' She said, 'No.' I said, 'Well they said that know what I'm saying, there's a rape charge going on. 'Where'd you hear that from? I ain't heard nothing.' Okay, so if you ain't hear nothing, then you need to go down there and clear these niggas' name."

Mystikal's next court date is Jan. 18, 2018.

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