LEGAL FILE

Former Bodyguard Convicted of Rape: A former bodyguard for rap singer LL Cool J was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl after a concert in the Twin Cities in August. The Hennepin County, Minn., District Court jury deliberated about 10 hours before issuing a verdict Wednesday night convicting Christopher Tsipouras, 22, of Union, N.J., of first- and third-degree sexual assault. Judge Philip Bush set sentencing for Jan. 5, revoked Tsipouras’ $100,000 bail and placed him in custody. State guidelines recommend a prison sentence of more than seven years. Tsipouras was charged with sexually assaulting the girl at L’Hotel Sofitel on Aug. 9. Two other members of the entourage--singer David Parker and crew member Gary Saunders--are awaiting trial on charges of sexually assaulting the girl later that night. The victim and a 16-year-old girlfriend had won backstage passes from a radio station.