Rock Musician’s Bid for Lower Bail Denied

A San Fernando Superior Court judge refused Wednesday to lower the $1-million bail set for rock singer Rick James, held on charges of sexual assault and torture.

But the judge agreed to a lower bail for the musician’s girlfriend, who is facing the same charges.

James, 43, and his girlfriend, Tanya Ann Hijazi, 21, are accused of holding a woman captive in the singer’s Hollywood Hills home for two days, burning her repeatedly with a cocaine pipe and forcing her to have sex.

Both defendants have pleaded innocent, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled Aug. 21.

Judge John C. Gunn refused to reduce James’ bail, saying he might flee the country to escape prosecution. But Gunn lowered Hijazi’s bail from $500,000 to $200,000.

James, whose real name is James Ambrose Johnson, is best known for the 1981 hit “Super Freak.”