Rapper Mystikal, formerly known as Michael Lawrence Tyler, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for third-degree rape at his Louisiana residence in 2022. This comes after he pleaded guilty in March, accepting a plea deal that capped his sentence at 20 years, which is five years less than the maximum penalty for the crime. The charge was reduced from first-degree rape, which carries a mandatory life sentence.
Leading up to his sentencing hearing, Mystikal attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, citing insufficient time to consider the consequences. The victim, who spoke in court before the sentencing, urged the judge to impose the maximum sentence. She detailed how Mystikal had physically assaulted her by punching, choking, and forcibly raping her at his Prairieville home, located approximately 29 kilometers from Baton Rouge.
In response to the victim’s testimony, Mystikal acknowledged that if the allegations were true, he deserved the maximum punishment. The rapper’s legal representative did not provide an immediate comment on the matter. Mystikal has been in custody without bond at the Ascension Parish Jail since his arrest.
Mystikal gained national fame in the 1990s and is best known for his 2000 hit “Shake Ya A**,” which earned him a Grammy nomination for the best rap solo performance category. Notably, in 2003, he pleaded guilty to sexual battery and received a six-year prison sentence. That same year, he was also a Grammy nominee for best rap album with “Tarantula” and best male rap solo performance for his track “Bouncin’ Back (Bumpin’ Me Against The Wall).”