A federal judge has sentenced rapper T.I. (real name is Clifford Harris) to 11 months jail time on probation violation charges.
Tip appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles Pannell Jr. today (October 15, 2010) at 2 p.m.
He was represented by a team of six attorneys, including Don Samuel, Ed Garland, Steve Sadow, Janice Capek, Kristen Wright and Dwight Thomas.
T.I. was still on probation for federal weapons charges when he was arrested Sept. 1 on drug charges in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, were taken into custody during a traffic stop in West Hollywood in which deputies said they smelled a strong odor of marijuana from inside the car. They were both released on bond.
After the arrest, the rapper?s probation officer filed documents claiming that Tip violated 3 Key Items during the arrest and recommended the hip-hop star spend up to 14 months in jail if found to have breached court regulations.
According to TMZ – T.I. told the judge he needed help for drug addiction and begged not to be sent back to prison. Officer James Polite, one of the officers from Wednesday’s jumper incident testified on T.I.’s behalf
During the hearing, a small fire broke out on the side of the courthouse, causing a stir, but the proceedings continued.
The rapper’s defense attorneys argued that drugs in his system were the result of a root canal and T.I. admitted to using the drugs, after he had dental surgery.? He also asked the judge to sentence him to rehab for drug addiction but he was sentenced to 11 months in prison instead.
“I screwed up,” said Harris, wearing a three-piece gray suit. “I screwed up bigtime, and I’m sorry. I’m truly and sincerely sorry. I don’t want and I don’t need to use drugs anymore. I want them out of my life.
Tip will have to surrender to officials in two weeks to begin serving his jail time on November 1st. [Via AJC]
Photos: FreddyO/ AP
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