Before Philadelphia battle rapper Tech 9's untimely death last week, he faced charges for sex crimes involving a minor and child pornography.

According to First Judicial District of Philadelphia Court legal documents obtained by XXL today (April 2), Tech 9, born Akhiym Mickens, was arrested on Jan. 5 and hit with charges of unlawful sexual contact with a minor, corruption of minors, criminal indecent assault, physical harassment, indecent exposure, criminal use of communication facility, photograph/film/depict on computer sex act—knowingly depicts on computer, photo and child pornography.

Tech 9's formal arraignment hearing was set for March 25 and the court docs indicate this was the latest action in the case. The Philly native's death was announced on the same day. The formal arraignment was supposed to happen on the same day that Tech 9 was pronounced dead at age 32.

Tech was set to appear in court for a pre-trial conference on April 16. The exact circumstances surrounding Tech 9's arrest are unknown.

According to Pennsylvania statute 18 § 6312, child porn is defined as "Any person who intentionally views or knowingly possesses or controls any book, magazine, pamphlet, slide, photograph, film, videotape, computer depiction or other material depicting a child under the age of 18 years engaging in a prohibited sexual act or in the simulation of such act commits an offense."

In Pennsylvania, a person who is guilty of indecent assault if they have had, "indecent contact with the complainant, causes the complainant to have indecent contact with the person or intentionally causes the complainant to come into contact with seminal fluid, urine or feces for the purpose of arousing sexual desire in the person or the complainant" and "(1) the person does so without the complainant's consent; (2) the person does so by forcible compulsion; (3) the person does so by threat of forcible compulsion that would prevent resistance by a person of reasonable resolution."

"(4) the complainant is unconscious or the person knows that the complainant is unaware that the indecent contact is occurring; (5) the person has substantially impaired the complainant's power to appraise or control his or her conduct by administering or employing, without the knowledge of the complainant, drugs, intoxicants or other means for the purpose of preventing resistance; (6) the complainant suffers from a mental disability which renders the complainant incapable of consent; (7) the complainant is less than 13 years of age; or (8) the complainant is less than 16 years of age and the person is four or more years older than the complainant and the complainant and the person are not married to each other."

XXL reports this just a bit over a week after Tech 9's death. After Tech's friend, Buttah From-Da Block, confirmed the rapper's tragic passing last week, a slew of rappers like Lupe Fiasco, Kendrick Lamar and more paid homage to the fallen MC.

“Sadly it's true. We lost a Philadelphia and battle rap legend and pioneer," Buttah From-Da Block told XXL on March 25. "Unfortunately we haven't fully figured the cause of death. We are praying that it was natural causes. He had no signs of harm done to his body.”

As of press time, no cause of death has been confirmed. XXL has reached out to Tech 9's lawyer, as well as one of his associates for comment on this situation.

See the court documents below.

First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Court
First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Court
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First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Court
First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Court
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