Former No Limit Records rap star Mystikal, real name Michael Tyler, received a 20-year sentence in a Louisiana court for a 2022 third-degree rape case on Tuesday, June 16, after the rapper asked to withdraw his guilty plea. WAFB broke the news.
The sentence, imposed in Ascension Parish, follows a plea agreement that substantially reduced Tyler’s potential criminal exposure. Prosecutors originally charged the rapper with first-degree rape and several related offenses, including domestic abuse battery by strangulation, simple robbery, false imprisonment, and criminal damage to property.
Court records show Tyler initially sought to withdraw his guilty plea before sentencing. Prosecutors said he later withdrew that request, allowing the plea agreement to remain in place and clearing the way for sentencing.
The case arose after Ascension Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to a hospital in July 2022 to investigate a reported sexual assault. Authorities said the alleged victim displayed visible injuries and identified Tyler as the assailant during interviews with investigators.
Former No Limit Records’ Rap Star Mystikal Sentenced To 20 Years For 2022 Louisiana Rape Case
“Once we got there, we talked to the victim, who had some very visible injuries on her body, and she was very distraught,” Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Donovan Jackson previously told local media.
“She talked with us, we interviewed her, and she was able to identify who the suspect was. And in this case, it was Michael Tyler, also known as Mystikal.”
According to investigative records, the woman alleged Tyler physically assaulted her at his Ascension Parish residence, prevented her from leaving, and sexually assaulted her. Authorities further alleged Tyler took her phone and keys and later compelled her to transfer money through Cash App before allowing her to depart.
By pleading guilty to third-degree rape, Tyler avoided the possibility of a life sentence that could have accompanied convictions on the original charges.
The conviction marks the latest entry in Tyler’s extensive criminal history. In 2004, he was convicted in a separate sexual assault case involving his hairstylist and served approximately six years in prison. He subsequently registered as a sex offender.
Tyler, 55, rose to national prominence through a string of successful releases with No Limit Records, including the hit singles “Shake Ya Ass” and “Danger (Been So Long).” His latest conviction and lengthy prison sentence likely bring an end to any foreseeable return to the music industry.
Leave a Reply