ASCENSION PARISH, La. (AP) — Rapper Mystikal pleaded guilty Tuesday to third-degree rape in a Louisiana courtroom, accepting a plea deal that caps his potential prison sentence at 20 years.
Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Lawrence Tyler, had faced a mandatory life sentence if convicted of the original first-degree rape charge. The plea agreement reduces the severity of the charge and eliminates the possibility of life in prison without parole.
The case stems from a 2022 arrest in Ascension Parish, where authorities accused Tyler of sexually assaulting a woman at a residence in Prairieville. He had remained in custody for an extended period as the case moved through the courts.
Under Louisiana law, third-degree rape carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years, though Tyler’s plea agreement limits his exposure to 20 years. A sentencing date has not been publicly confirmed.
Tyler, a New Orleans native, rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s with a string of hits including “Shake Ya Ass” and “Danger (Been So Long). His career has been repeatedly interrupted by legal issues.
He previously served about six years in prison following a 2003 conviction on sexual battery and extortion charges. After his release, he returned to music but faced additional legal challenges in subsequent years.
The plea brings an end to the current case without a trial. Tyler is expected to be formally sentenced at a later hearing.
