A state judge has denied bond for New Orleans rapper Mystikal, whose legal name is Michael Lawrence Tyler, following his arrest on first-degree rape and false imprisonment charges. The ruling came during a “72-hour hearing” in Ascension Parish, where the judge cited strong evidence, recidivism concerns and the alleged victim’s “fears” as justification.
Serious Allegations Detailed in Court
Tyler, 51, was arrested after a woman reported being assaulted at his home in Prairieville, La. According to arrest documents, the woman visited to discuss financial commitments, but things quickly escalated.
Testimony from a sheriff’s detective painted a harrowing scene. The woman told deputies Tyler accused her of stealing cash, physically attacked her — “punching her, choking her, pulling out her braids” — and took her phone and keys to keep her from leaving.
Investigators also detailed mood swings, shifted from anger to remorse. At one point, Tyler reportedly apologized, asked her to pray, then allegedly raped her.
After the assault, he allegedly demanded she repay money via CashApp, handed back her phone, only to enter a higher amount himself, then returned it again so she could finally leave.
The victim later went to a Baton Rouge hospital, where a sexual assault examination was conducted. Deputies documented injuries consistent with her account.
Mystikal’s defense has pushed back sharply against the bond denial. “There was no evidence given on my client’s part,” said his attorney, Joel Pearce. Pearce argued for a full bond hearing, saying he wants to “test the state’s case” with a preliminary examination.
Pearce also disputes claims of violence: “He never threatened her, never choked her,” he told media outlets.
Meanwhile, former defense attorney Roy Maughan Jr., who had sought a $250,000 bond, expressed disappointment but noted his client may not appeal the ruling.
A spokesperson from the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office told reporters that despite Mystikal’s fame, “he won’t get any sympathy or special treatment … He will be in general population and incarcerated like anyone else.”
This is not Tyler’s first legal battle involving sexual violence. In 2003, he pleaded guilty to sexual battery and extortion; he served six years in prison. He was later indicted in 2017 on rape and kidnapping charges, but those were dropped after a grand jury declined to indict again.
The seriousness of the current charges compounds concerns. First-degree rape in Louisiana carries a mandatory life sentence, if convicted.