Mystikal pleads guilty to third-degree rape charge

Mystikal has entered a guilty plea on third-degree rape charges.

The Guardian reports that the rapper has changed his plea.

In 2022, the Shake Ya Ass musician, whose real name is Michael Tyler, was arrested and later charged with first-degree rape, simple robbery, domestic-abuse battery, and false imprisonment. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at the time and was scheduled to begin trial on 30 March.

The new guilty plea is the result of a deal that reduces Tyler’s potential sentence. While the original first-degree rape charge would have carried an automatic life sentence, he could face up to 20 years in prison for a third-degree rape conviction. His sentencing is scheduled for June.

In 2022, a woman alleged that Tyler sexually assaulted and held her against her will, as reported by Rolling Stone. Tyler has been held without bond since his arrest, given his previous criminal history.

Tyler is a lifetime registered sex offender. He was previously convicted of sexual battery after assaulting his hairstylist in 2003. He spent six years in prison for the offence before being released in 2010.

Seven years later, he faced another sexual-assault case that also carried charges of first-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping. Tyler spent nearly 18 months in jail for that case before posting $3 million (£2.26 million) bail. The charges were ultimately dismissed by a grand jury in December 2020.