A new weapon count has been tacked on to the assault charges against Busta Rhymes stemming from his alleged attack of a man for spitting on his SUV.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said prosecutors added criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor complaint, for a machete found in his vehicle. The extra count, which could result in a year in jail, joins previous charges of third-degree misdemeanor assault and harassment charges for the Aug. 12 incident. The rapper, whose real name is Trevor Smith, is accused of repeatedly punching and kicking Roberto Lebron as the MC’s bodyguards stood by and watched. Lebron, who says he was spitting in the street just as Rhymes’s vehicle passed by, was treated at a hospital for a concussion, split lip and wrist injury.
A week later, the rapper was arrested and initially booked on felony assault and harassment charges, along with the weapons-possession charge after police found the 10-inch blade in a rear seat pocket.
An earlier attempt by the D.A. to include the machete-related weapon charge failed; Criminal Court judge Shawndya Simpson threw out their earlier petition at a hearing in October.
Rhymes' attorney, Scott Leemon, told E! Online in August that the blade was simply a "prop" and, at worst, an "administrative violation"—not a criminal charge.
The rapper appeared before the judge in this latest hearing, but remained silent and did not speak with reporters as he left the building. He’s due back in court on Feb. 20.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said prosecutors added criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor complaint, for a machete found in his vehicle. The extra count, which could result in a year in jail, joins previous charges of third-degree misdemeanor assault and harassment charges for the Aug. 12 incident. The rapper, whose real name is Trevor Smith, is accused of repeatedly punching and kicking Roberto Lebron as the MC’s bodyguards stood by and watched. Lebron, who says he was spitting in the street just as Rhymes’s vehicle passed by, was treated at a hospital for a concussion, split lip and wrist injury.
A week later, the rapper was arrested and initially booked on felony assault and harassment charges, along with the weapons-possession charge after police found the 10-inch blade in a rear seat pocket.
An earlier attempt by the D.A. to include the machete-related weapon charge failed; Criminal Court judge Shawndya Simpson threw out their earlier petition at a hearing in October.
Rhymes' attorney, Scott Leemon, told E! Online in August that the blade was simply a "prop" and, at worst, an "administrative violation"—not a criminal charge.
The rapper appeared before the judge in this latest hearing, but remained silent and did not speak with reporters as he left the building. He’s due back in court on Feb. 20.
