Mystikal denied bond ahead of rape trial and potential life sentence
A judge has denied bond for Mystikal ahead of his upcoming trial, following his arrest on multiple charges in 2022.
The New Orleans rapper (real name Michael Tyler) was hit with charges including first-degree rape, domestic abuse battery-strangulation, and false imprisonment.
According to Louisiana First News, Ascension Parish Judge Steven Tureau ordered Mystikal to remain behind bars on November 18th.
The rapper’s trial is set to begin on March 30th, 2026, and is expected to last for one week. He faces up to life in prison if found guilty of the charges.
The rape charge stems from Mystikal allegedly sexually assaulting and holding a woman against her will at his Baton Rouge home in July 2022. His lawyer, Joel Pearce, said, “It’s an indictment. It means nothing. We look forward to our day in court.”
His next court hearing is scheduled for January 21st, 2026. If he was granted bail, the rapper’s mother and manager said they would have watched over him.
Mystikal was previously jailed for sexual battery in 2003, and was charged with kidnapping and sexual assault in 2016, which ended up being dropped.
The 55-year-old is best known for his hit single ‘Shake Ya Ass’, which reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as ‘Danger (Been So Long)’ featuring Nivea, which peaked at number 14.
His fourth album, Let’s Get Ready, topped the Billboard 200 chart in 2000, selling 330,663 copies in its first week. It featured the likes of Outkast, The Neptunes, Da Brat, Petey Pablo, and others.
Mystikal was previously signed to Master P’s No Limit Records, releasing two albums on the label: Unpredictable and Ghetto Fabolous.