A$AP Rocky Declines Plea Deal Offer, Maintains Innocence As Trial Begins

Rapper A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, appeared in court for the beginning of jury selection at his trial and rejected a plea deal from the prosecution.

The "Praise the Lord" crooner is accused of firing a weapon at his former friend in 2021 and could face up to 24 years in prison if found guilty.

A$AP Rocky is in a relationship with singer and fashion mogul Rihanna. The pair share two sons, RZA and Riot.

On Tuesday, A$AP Rocky appeared in a court in downtown Los Angeles for jury selection in his criminal assault trial.

According to AP, he rejected a final plea offer from the Los Angeles County prosecutors.

If the rapper had agreed to the deal, he would have pleaded guilty to one of two felony charges against him and had to serve six months in jail with three years probation and a seven-year suspended sentence.

However, A$AP Rocky and his legal team turned down the offer, though his attorney, Joe Tacopina, hinted at a key defense strategy during the court proceedings.

Tacopina plans to argue that the firearm in question was a "starter pistol," a non-lethal prop the rapper allegedly carried for security purposes.

Over 100 potential jurors were summoned on the first day of Rocky's trial.

The presiding judge, Mark Arnold, shared his plans to seat a jury quickly, with opening statements expected to begin as early as Wednesday.

Arnold is also strictly limiting the time attorneys can question potential jurors.

Arnold told the prospective jurors, "Mr. Mayers is an entertainer. His name is A$AP Rocky. His life partner is also an entertainer. Her name is Rihanna. Because Mr. Mayers is an entertainer, a celebrity, that cannot harm him, and it cannot benefit him."

The judge will also allow media coverage in court throughout the trial's duration after jury selection.

The charges against Rocky stem from an alleged altercation between him and his childhood friend, Terell Ephron, on November 6, 2021.

Ephron claimed Rocky fired a gun at him amid a heated dispute near a Hollywood hotel. He also claimed that the bullets grazed his knuckles.

The incident reportedly marked the culmination of a feud between Rocky and Ephron.

A preliminary hearing was held in November 2021, where the then-presiding judge, M. L. Villar, ruled that there was enough evidence for Rocky to stand trial on the charges against him.

Following Vilar's ruling, Tacopina said, "We're not disappointed, not surprised, we expected to go to trial, we've been planning for trial all along. Rocky is going to be vindicated when all this is said and done, without question."

A$AP Rocky's trial is coming at a time his career is flourishing despite his legal troubles.

He was named as one of the celebrity chairs of the Met Gala in May and will play a major role in a soon-to-be-released Spike Lee-directed movie with Denzel Washington.

However, if found guilty, his career could get derailed, and there could be question marks about his achievements.

Meanwhile, Rihanna has yet to appear in court amid her partner's trial. Her presence in court could lead to even more attention, but there is a low chance of that happening.

Tacopina indicated it is unlikely for the "Umbrella" singer to make a court appearance, but their relationship has given the trial much more media attention.

Following Villar's ruling that Rocky should face trial for the charges against him, reports circulated that it led to issues between him and Rihanna.

According to Radar Online, an insider said Rihanna and Rocky had "started fighting all the time because he's just got no patience for anything."

The source also said that Rocky's mood had become terrible, adding that the couple's sex life had deteriorated following his legal troubles.

The insider claimed, "Before this mess with the trial, they could hardly keep their off each other, but their sex life is nonexistent these days. They're both just too stressed."

According to the insider, Rihanna feared becoming a single mother if Rocky was convicted and had to serve a lengthy jail term. Hence, the possibility of that happening "absolutely terrified" her.