American rapper Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to a rape charge linked to a 2022 incident in Louisiana.
The 55-year-old artist, best known for his hit single Shake Ya Ass, received the sentence after a court heard harrowing testimony from the victim, who described being punched, choked, and forcibly assaulted at his residence. She also alleged that her hair braids were pulled out during the attack.
During proceedings, the victim urged the court to impose the maximum penalty, citing the severity of the abuse she endured. In a brief statement to the judge, Tyler reportedly said that if the allegations were true, he deserved the harshest punishment.
Tyler was initially arrested in 2022 facing multiple serious charges, including first-degree rape, false imprisonment, and domestic abuse-related offences. He later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree rape earlier this year.
The court also heard that the victim was allegedly prevented from leaving the property after her keys and phone were taken, and was later forced to transfer money to the rapper via a mobile payment service.
The sentencing marks the latest chapter in a long history of legal troubles for Tyler, who previously served a six-year jail term in 2004 for sexual assault and later received a short sentence in 2012 for domestic abuse.
In 2017, he was again accused of rape and kidnapping, although those charges were subsequently dropped. Despite past controversies, he briefly continued his music career, which peaked in the early 2000s.
Following his latest conviction, the court ruled that Tyler’s sentence would be capped at 20 years after his guilty plea, bringing a dramatic end to a case that has once again placed the rapper under intense public scrutiny.
