A$AP Rocky Declines Plea Deal as Los Angeles Trial Commences

A$AP Rocky’s Legal Challenges

A$AP Rocky has turned down a plea offer that included a 180-day jail sentence, leading him to confront the potential for a conviction as his trial for assault with a deadly weapon commences in Los Angeles.

As reported by the Associated Press, the rapper, whose real name is Rakim Myers, was offered a deal that involved pleading guilty to one of two felonies related to his alleged assault with a semi-automatic firearm.

The report indicates that Los Angeles County prosecutors recommended a sentence of seven years probation, three years of supervision, and six months in jail. However, A$AP Rocky opted to reject this plea as his trial began this week.

Details of the Case

The 36-year-old rapper faces allegations of firing a gun at a former friend outside a Hollywood hotel in 2021, and if found guilty, he could face a sentence of up to 24 years in prison.

On January 21, more than 100 potential jurors were summoned to a downtown Los Angeles courtroom, with opening statements expected to commence once 12 jurors are selected—most likely on January 22 or later. Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold expressed his intention to seat a jury as efficiently as possible.

“Mr. Myers is an entertainer. His stage name is A$AP Rocky. His life partner is also an entertainer. Her name is Rihanna,” Judge Arnold informed the potential jurors. “Because Mr. Myers is an entertainer, a celebrity, this cannot harm him at all,” he added.

Defense Strategy and Accusations

Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, shared that the defense intends to call witnesses to argue that the firearm seen in surveillance footage is merely a “starter gun,” which the rapper uses as a prop. This assertion, however, was not previously addressed in pretrial hearings.

The decision for A$AP Rocky to go on trial for allegedly shooting his former friend and collaborator Terell Efron was made in 2023.

During this trial, prosecutors claim that Rocky aimed a gun at Efron and shot him in the street outside the W Hollywood Hotel in November 2021 after Efron was “lured” there to settle a disagreement.

Efron, who was part of the A$AP Mob under the name A$AP Relli alongside A$AP Rocky, further alleges he was a victim of assault and battery, negligence, and emotional distress, according to a report by the BBC.

At a preliminary hearing, the rapper entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of assault involving a semi-automatic firearm.