December 30, 2008 9:10 EST
DMX
Embattled rapper DMX faces at least 90 days in jail after pleading guilty on Tuesday to drug, theft and animal cruelty charges, Arizona prosecutors said.
The rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, pleaded to three felony charges and one misdemeanor count in Maricopa County Superior Court under a deal to settle three criminal cases against him. He also agreed not to own any animals or posses firearms.
Simmons, 38, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30. He remains in custody.
"I am pleased that this defendant will be held accountable for both his drug and animal cruelty offenses," said County Attorney Andrew Thomas in a statement. Simmons attorney Charles Kozelka could not immediately be reached for comment.
The rapper-turned-actor has been battling legal woes during the past year in Arizona, where he maintains a home near Phoenix.
In May, he was arrested on drug and animal cruelty charges after sheriff's deputies raided his home. Authorities found dog carcasses and malnourished pit bulls at the residence.
He also was charged with assuming someone's identity and providing false information during a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., in an alleged attempt to avoid paying the bill.
Simmons has missed several court appearances, causing a county court commissioner to issue bench warrants for his arrest. The latest warrant came earlier this month.
COPYRIGHT: (c) Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
The rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, pleaded to three felony charges and one misdemeanor count in Maricopa County Superior Court under a deal to settle three criminal cases against him. He also agreed not to own any animals or posses firearms.
Simmons, 38, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30. He remains in custody.
"I am pleased that this defendant will be held accountable for both his drug and animal cruelty offenses," said County Attorney Andrew Thomas in a statement. Simmons attorney Charles Kozelka could not immediately be reached for comment.
The rapper-turned-actor has been battling legal woes during the past year in Arizona, where he maintains a home near Phoenix.
In May, he was arrested on drug and animal cruelty charges after sheriff's deputies raided his home. Authorities found dog carcasses and malnourished pit bulls at the residence.
He also was charged with assuming someone's identity and providing false information during a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., in an alleged attempt to avoid paying the bill.
Simmons has missed several court appearances, causing a county court commissioner to issue bench warrants for his arrest. The latest warrant came earlier this month.
COPYRIGHT: (c) Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
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