American rapper Mystikal has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting to raping a woman at his Louisiana residence in 2022.
During the sentencing, the victim recounted how the rapper, known as Michael Tyler, assaulted her by punching, choking, and forcibly raping her, leading her to request the maximum penalty from the judge.
Addressing the court, Tyler expressed remorse to the victim, acknowledging that if his actions caused harm, he deserved the strictest punishment.
Renowned for his hit song ‘Shake Ya Ass’ from 2000, Mystikal received a 20-year sentence for third-degree rape following his initial arrest on charges of first-degree rape and false imprisonment in 2022. He later pleaded guilty to reduced charges of third-degree rape.
In an attempt to retract his guilty plea, Mystikal claimed he was emotionally distressed and had not fully considered the implications before confessing to the crime.
During the trial, the victim, who remained unnamed, testified that Mystikal took her belongings and assaulted her before ultimately letting her leave after coercing her to send him money through CashApp.
Originally facing severe charges including first-degree rape, criminal property damage, domestic abuse battery, robbery, and false imprisonment, Mystikal’s sentence was limited to 20 years following his guilty plea.
Having faced prior sexual assault allegations, including a six-year prison term in 2004 for assaulting his hair stylist and a three-month sentence in 2012 for misdemeanor domestic abuse, Mystikal was also accused of rape and kidnapping in 2017, though the charges were eventually dismissed.