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Louisiana rapper Michael Tyler, known to the world as Mystikal, has been ordered to remain behind bars as he awaits trial on a series of serious charges stemming from a 2022 incident. An Ascension Parish judge denied his request for bond during a hearing on Tuesday, keeping the 53-year-old artist in jail until his case is heard.
Tyler is facing multiple felony counts, including first-degree rape, domestic abuse battery–strangulation, and false imprisonment. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Judge Steven Tureau rejected the plea for bond despite testimony from Tyler’s mother and business manager, who told the court they were willing to supervise and support him if he were released. Instead, Judge Tureau set a new trial date for March 30, 2026. The proceedings are expected to last at least a week.
Tyler is also scheduled for another court hearing on Jan. 21, 2026.
Mystikal’s legal history continues to complicate the case. He previously served time for a 2003 sexual battery conviction and was later charged in 2016 with kidnapping and sexual assault—charges that were ultimately dropped.
If convicted of the current first-degree rape count, Tyler faces a mandatory life sentence, marking what could be the most consequential legal battle of his career.
