April 2, 2001 17:25

DOGG DENIES FIREARM CHARGE

The rap arises from last year when the star allegedly held his girlfriend at knifepoint...

Rapper NATE DOGG pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal possession of a firearm during a hearing in a Californian court last week (March 28).

Nate Dogg, real name Nathaniel Hale, and cousin of Snoop Dogg, was bailed to appear back at Superior Court in Southeast Norwalk on April 20.

The charges arose from an incident in Lakewood Caifornia last June when Nate allegedly held his girlfriend at gunpoint, assaulted her, threatened to burn down her mother's house and then torched her mother's car.

All original charges of kidnapping, domestic violence, making terrorist threats and arson were dropped when his girlfriend refused to give evidence against him.

Because of a drug conviction in 1996, Nate is barred from owning a firearm of any kind.

After his initial arrest, which came during the troubled 'Up In Smoke' tour, Nate was bailed on a staggering $1million bond.