Fri Jan 24 19:20:00 UTC 2025: ## A$AP Rocky Rejects Plea Deal, Faces Years in Prison
**Los Angeles, CA** – Rapper A$AP Rocky (Rakim Mayers) rejected a plea deal that would have given him 180 days in jail, opting instead to face trial on assault charges. Jury selection began Tuesday in the case stemming from a 2021 shooting incident near a Hollywood hotel.
The prosecution’s offer included a guilty plea to one felony count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, a seven-year suspended sentence, three years of probation, and a six-month jail term. However, Rocky, represented by attorney Joe Tacopina, declined the deal. If convicted on both felony counts, he faces a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison.
The defense plans a novel strategy, arguing that the firearm seen in security footage was a “starter pistol” used by Rocky as a prop for security purposes. This line of defense was not previously revealed in pretrial hearings.
Over 100 prospective jurors were summoned for the trial, which is expected to begin with opening statements Wednesday or later. Judge Mark Arnold is prioritizing a swift jury selection process. He emphasized to potential jurors that Rocky’s celebrity status should not influence their decision. The trial will be open to media cameras.
The charges stem from an altercation with Terell Ephron, a former friend who testified that Rocky fired a gun at him, grazing his knuckles. While Rocky’s partner, Rihanna, was not present at Tuesday’s proceedings, her absence is unlikely to be a significant factor. The trial proceeds against a backdrop of Rocky’s successful career in music, fashion, and film, which could be severely impacted by a conviction.
First Piper 