January 16, 2004 11:30

MYSTIKAL JAILED FOR SIX YEARS

The star is found guilty of forcing his hair stylist to perform sex acts...

MYSTIKAL was sentenced to six years in prison yesterday (January 15) after he was found guilty of forcing his hair stylist to perform sex acts.

The rapper - born Michael Tyler - pleaded guilty to sexual battery and was led from the courtroom in Louisiana's Baton Rouge in handcuffs.

The victim accused Tyler and two bodyguards, Leland 'Pokie' Ellis and Vercy 'V' Carter, of forcing her to perform the acts in his apartment in July 2002, after they claimed she had stolen $80,000.

The victim denied she had stolen any money from the rapper.

After watching a videotape the men had made during the incident, Judge Tony Marabella said that the woman had been "terrorised".

According to reports, Judge Marabella added: "The court is convinced that the defendant believes he is above the law and can take the law into his own hands."

Ellis was sentenced to three years in jail, while Carter received four, after the pair also pleaded guilty to the sexual battery charge.

Tyler also pleaded guilty to extortion, and had earlier received five years probation on that charge.

According to a letter in court records, the rapper has also paid the victim $350,000 - with $300,000 borrowed from his record label, Jive. The money and his plea are said to show he is "continuing to try and make up to all involved for the distress" he caused.

'Tarantula', Mystikal's 2001 album, was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2003 Grammy Awards.