Boosie BadAzz, formerly known as Lil Boosie, whose real name is Torrence Hatch Jr., pleaded not guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in his first court appearance since his May 6 arrest following a traffic stop in San Diego.
Boosie, a convicted felon, has been arrested and convicted on several charges, including drug possession, drug trafficking and attempted murder. He has served time in prison on multiple occasions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm, FOX San Diego reported.
But when officers stopped Boosie at 4700 Market Street in the Chollas View neighborhood, they allegedly found two loaded handguns in the vehicle.
According to Lt. Gavin Lanning, a watch commander at the sheriff’s communications center, the rapper was charged with several counts, including possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm.
Boosie has a history of arrests and was previously convicted on gun and drug charges in 2009, resulting in a prison sentence, NOLA reported.
After Boosie’s arraignment on May 15, his defense attorneys declined to comment on the case. The other person, a 28-year-old man named Billy Ray Johnson Jr. who was arrested with the rapper, has not been charged in connection with the incident, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.
If convicted, the Louisiana rapper could face up to three years in state prison.
The rapper is currently free on $50,000 bail and has not been arrested. His next court appearance is set for May 24, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 22.
Boosie was in San Diego to film a music video and was also scheduled to perform at the Phantom Lounge and Nightclub in the Gaslamp Quarter on May 6.
After his arrest, Boosie encouraged his fans to say, “f– San Diego Police.”
