VAN NUYS : All Charges Against Musicians Dropped
The prosecution on Friday dropped all charges against five Pacoima rap musicians accused of pimping, pandering, rape and robbery after a Van Nuys Superior Court jury acquitted them of 17 of 24 charges.
After nine days of deliberation, jurors said they were deadlocked on seven other charges. Judge Michael Hoff accepted Deputy Dist. Atty. Myron Jenkins’ motion to dismiss the remaining charges. Jenkins said the men were aspiring rap singers who supported themselves in 1990 and 1991 by supplying prostitutes to others and selling drugs. He also said the men raped and beat at least six of the women.
But Thaddeus Little, 31-year-old leader of the group, testified that the women were rap groupies and that he and the other defendants did not know they were prostitutes.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
