Young Thug Makes Court Appearance Following Gunna’s Release on Alford Plea
Written by SOURCE on December 15, 2022
Young Thug appeared in court on Thursday ahead of the expected start next month of a trial centered on the widely criticized YSL RICO case.
While multiple livestreams for the hearing in question had surfaced, both appeared to have been riddled with audio problems and other issues, with regional outlet 11Alive noting in the description of one such video that there had been “a technical issue inside the courtroom.”
This issue, the outlet said, was followed by a move to another courtroom, although (at the time of this writing, at least) audio issues still appeared to be ongoing.
Per WSB-TV, Thug’s lawyer, Brian Steel, entered Thursday’s motions hearing with the continued goal of securing bond and also intended to discuss a number of motions involving the much-discussed case. Presumably, additional information regarding the hearing will be released shortly.
In the meantime, Complex has reached out to Steel’s office for further comment. This story may be updated. Among the accusations that have been leveled against Thug are conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and participation in criminal street gang activity. As has been mentioned throughout the case’s coverage this year, the proceedings have further highlighted the issue of using one’s creative expression against them in a criminal setting, resulting in a petition that has since garnered more than 67,000 signatures.
Young Thug’s in-person court appearance follows word that Gunna had entered an Alford plea in the case, followed by his release on a time-served, suspended sentence. In a statement shared with Complex via counsel, Gunna noted that he still maintained his innocence in the case.
“I have chosen to end my own RICO case with an Alford plea and end my personal ordeal by publicly acknowledging my association with YSL,” Gunna said. “An Alford plea in my case is the entry of a guilty plea to the one charge against me, which is in my best interest, while at the same time maintaining my innocence toward the same charge.”
As seen in court documents viewed by Complex, among the additional conditions of Gunna’s release are that he complete at least 350 hours of community service, locations of which are set to be selected by Fulton County officials.
