Photo Credits: Bob Levey/Getty Image
Tekashi69 who now says he’s going by his government name Daniel Hernandez, not Tekashi, was sentenced in his child sex case today.
The judge gave him 4 years probation, exactly what the rapper’s team had requested. He addressed the court saying, “I have millions of youth that look at me as a role model and the last place I want to be is incarcerated, they don’t deserve it. Thank you.”
Technically he won’t even have to serve the full four, the judge gave him credit for one year, so he only has 3 years of probation left. He will also have to do 1,000 hours of community service, refrain from associating with any gang members and completely avoid all gang activity. Any potential new arrests would be deemed a violation, and he could be re-sentenced which could equal prison time.
If you haven’t been keeping up with the case, the rapper originally pled guilty to one count of Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance in October 2015. Prosecutors say Tekashi was at a party in Harlem and 13-year-old girl and an unidentified man were filmed while engaging in a sexual act while 69 stood “behind the child making a thrusting motion with his pelvis and smacking on her buttocks.” The child is also reportedly nude in the video.
The rapper’s sentence was deferred for 2 years and, if he complied with certain conditions — like getting mental health treatment and staying out of trouble — the judge would only give him probation. The problem for Tekashi was he got arrested in Texas and Brooklyn.
A rep for the NY rapper said “Daniel understands what he must now do moving forward and we will be with him every step of the way. We also want to thank the judge for being very fair and impartial.”