Well-known artist, Mystikal, has pleaded not guilty to charges which accuse him of raping and choking a woman at his home in Louisiana and of possessing several drugs. His lawyer has since said that his client is innocent of all charges.

The 51-year-old rapper, whose real name is Michael Tyler is being represented by attorney Joel Pearce. The charges include first-degree rape, which carries an automatic life sentence. he appeared in court yesterday, September 19.

The charges arsing out of his arrest include simple criminal damage to property, false imprisonment, domestic abuse battery by strangulation, simple robbery, possession of heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine and Xanax, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

His lawyer also revealed that his bond may be discussed at a hearing on October 17. However, prosecutors have already indicated that they plan to bring up Tyler’s 2003 guilty plea to sexual battery and extortion as evidence of prior crimes, said Pearce.

Mystical does have a history of abuse and back in 2003 he and two bodyguards videotaped themselves in sex acts with his hairstylist.

The prosecutor in that case, Sue Bernie, said in 2003 that the woman told investigators that the entertainer had accused her of stealing US$80,000 worth of his checks and told her he would not go to the police if she did something sexual.

A letter in court records before Tyler’s sentencing stated that he had paid the woman $350,000. He served six years in prison on that conviction.