Rapper to serve a year in drug case
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Baton Rouge rapper Torrence “Lil Boosie’’ Hatch will serve at least one year in prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to a third-offense marijuana possession charge.
“I’m ready to get this behind me,’’ the 26-year-old Hatch, who was scheduled to stand trial next week, told state District Judge Chip Moore.
An agreement between prosecutors and Hatch’s attorneys calls for Hatch to receive a 10-year sentence with all but the first two years suspended.
He must serve one of those years.
Hatch will be on active supervised probation for two to five years after he is released from prison.
Moore, who set a Nov. 9 sentencing date, sternly warned Hatch to stay out of trouble and away from guns, drugs and convicted felons between now and then.
If Hatch is rearrested or tests positive for drugs or fails to show up on Nov. 9, the judge said the consequences will be severe.
“When I do catch up with you, I can assure you I will not abide by this agreement of 10 years. It will be much more,’’ he said.
East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies seized a bag of marijuana, a cigar containing the drug, and a gun from a car driven by Hatch on Oct. 22.
Deputies testified at a hearing last month that they smelled the strong odor of marijuana when they pulled alongside Hatch’s car on the southbound Interstate 110 exit ramp at Government Street.
Hatch was charged with third-offense possession of marijuana, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance, which carries a mandatory minimum five-year term.
The firearm charge is being held in abeyance. If Hatch successfully completes his probation, the charge will be dropped, prosecutor Adam Haney said.
“He’s trying to get his life together and move in the right direction,’’ said James Manasseh, one of Hatch’s attorneys.
after court.
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