Rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years on Tuesday after he was found guilty in December of shooting and wounding rapper Megan Thee Stallion, according to multiple reports .
A Los Angeles jury found Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, guilty of all three charges against him, including assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence, after a two-week trial in December.
The 31-year-old Canadian rapper pleaded not guilty despite damning evidence and testimony. His former attorney, George Mgdesyan, said after the trial that Lanezs legal team would consider all its options, including an appeal, which can be filed after sentencing. Lanezs current attorneys, Jose Baez and Matthew Barhoma, may appeal his conviction, The Associated Press reported .
The sentencing was divided up into two days as the court heard from Lanez, his father and multiple others by way of letters sent to the judge.
During Mondays portion, the judge briefly summarized more than 70 letters in support of Lanez, including one from Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, who asked the judge to sentence Lanez in a way that is transformational, not life destroying, journalist Meghann Cuniff reported . (Azalea later went on to say that she is a supporter of prison reform in general and did not know her letter to the judge would be made public.)
A letter from Megan Thee Stallion was also read in court Monday by Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Kathy Ta.
Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace, Megans statement said. Slowly but surely, Im healing and coming back, but I will never be the same.
He paid bloggers to disseminate false information; he treated my trauma like a joke when I couldve been dead. He blamed the system, he blamed the press, and as of late he is using his childhood trauma to justify his actions, she added.
During Tuesdays portion of the sentencing, Lanez addressed the court, saying he would turn back the series of events that night and change them if he could.
The victim was my friend. The victim is someone I still care for to this day, he said. Everything I did wrong that night, I take full responsibility for.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford said Tuesday that unfortunately sometimes good people do bad things when he sentenced Lanez. Mr. Petersons actions in those few seconds changed many lives.
While Lanezs charges couldve carried a maximum sentence of up to 22 years, the prosecutors sought a 13-year sentence. His attorneys pushed for a new trial in a motion that was denied in May .
Last week, Lanezs attorneys submitted a 41-page memo seeking probation and drug rehabilitation for Lanez, Rolling Stone reported .
Assuming the allegations are true, Mr. Petersons psychological, physical, and childhood trauma was a factor in the commission of the offense, the document reads.
Likewise, the current offense is connected to Mr. Petersons childhood trauma and mental illness, alcohol-use disorder, which compromised his ability to manage and regulate his emotions and behaviors and that his alcohol-use disorder played a significant role in the alleged offenses, it added.
Before and during the trial, Lanez attempted to appeal to Black men by condemning cancel culture and relying on misogynoir a brand of misogyny aimed at Black women against Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete.
Please dont ruin my life, Lanez told Herriford, who is also Black, at a hearing where he sought a new trial. I could be your brother .
The court finds no error, prosecutorial misconduct or newly discovered evidence, Herriford said on May 9 when he denied Lanezs motion , according to City News Service .
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