US rapper Michael Tyler, known professionally as Mystikal, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for third-degree rape. The sentencing follows his guilty plea to the charge in March, a decision that reportedly reduced the severity of the overall case against him. Originally, Tyler had faced more serious charges including first-degree rape, simple robbery, domestic abuse battery, and false imprisonment.
During court proceedings, the unnamed victim provided a detailed account of the incident. She testified that Tyler had physically assaulted her, including punching and choking, and had pulled out her hair braids before raping her while she was detained at his residence in Louisiana. The victim also stated that Tyler confiscated her mobile phone and car keys, preventing her from leaving, and transferred money from her phone before eventually allowing her to depart.
Prior to his sentencing, Tyler addressed the court, stating: “If I did that to you, I deserve the max sentence.” His decision to plead guilty was reportedly part of an agreement that mitigated the potential legal consequences he faced; a conviction on the original charges could have resulted in mandatory life imprisonment.
However, just a week before the sentencing, Tyler attempted to retract his guilty plea. A filing submitted on his behalf claimed he was “under significant emotional distress and felt substantial pressure to make an immediate decision” when he entered the plea. This motion was ultimately dismissed by the court, clearing the way for the scheduled sentencing.
This is not Tyler's first encounter with the justice system. In 2004, he was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of sexual assault and extortion, a conviction that mandated his registration as a sex offender. He also served three months in jail in 2012 for misdemeanour domestic abuse, a violation of his probation from the earlier imprisonment. Furthermore, in 2017, he was charged with rape and kidnapping, spending 18 months in jail before those particular charges were dropped.
Mystikal achieved significant commercial success in 2000 with his hit single 'Shake Ya Ass' and the album 'Let’s Get Ready', which topped the US album charts. Despite his past musical achievements, he has released very little new music over the last decade, with his last album of original material, 'Tarantula', released in 2001.