Rick James’ Plea Bargain Leads to Fiancee’s Resentencing

Amid allegations that a district attorney’s investigator provided drugs to a key witness, a judge on Friday agreed to resentence funk singer Rick James’ fiancee for assaulting another woman in a sensational drug and assault case.

Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Michael R. Hoff set aside a four-year sentence given to Tanya Anne Hijazi, in light of a deal that James struck with prosecutors that could have him out of jail by September.

Hoff’s decision comes in the midst of what sources say is an investigation into allegations that a district attorney’s investigator provided drugs to a key witness in the case against both James and Hijazi.

Hijazi had pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman in a swank Sunset Boulevard hotel while James looked on. In a plea bargain negotiated Aug. 11, she admitted attacking Mary Sauger of West Hollywood at the St. James’ Club & Hotel.

Hijazi was sentenced to four years in prison on Sept. 21, four days after James was convicted of assaulting Sauger, 35, and of providing drugs to another woman who alleged that she was tortured.

Leonard B. Levine, an attorney representing the 23-year-old Hijazi, asked Hoff to rescind the four-year sentence given to Hijazi in light of the deal James struck with prosecutors.

“The motion was a very simple motion based on the simple fact that it was not appropriate in light of Mr. James’ sentence,” Levine said. “She will be resentenced as if she had never been sentenced before.”

In a surprise move Jan. 7, James pleaded no contest to an assault charge and was sentenced to five years, four months in prison. But prosecutors agreed to support a petition that James be sent to a drug-rehabilitation program, a deal that could free him in 8 1/2 months if he successfully completes treatment.

James will appear in court next week to ask another judge to send him to the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco for drug treatment.

James, the self-proclaimed “King of Funk” best known for his 1981 hit “Super Freak,” had been previously convicted on three other felony counts by a jury that was unable to reach a decision on other counts that carried a life prison term. The three charges that resulted in conviction--assault, false imprisonment and furnishing drugs--carried a term of nearly nine years.

Considering the James case, Levine said it was “not appropriate for Ms. Hijazi to be serving more time.” Hoff is scheduled to resentence Hijazi on Feb. 4.

Levine said he met with prosecutors Thursday to discuss the investigation into possible wrongdoing.

Hoff has issued a gag order preventing attorneys associated with the case from discussing the details of the investigation, which sources said involves allegations that a district attorney’s investigator provided drugs or other contraband to Michelle Allen, a woman who testified against James during his trial and would have testified against Hijazi.