BY NEEL KELLER—-
|
Reggae performer Eek-A-Mouse, born Ripton Joseph Hylton, has been released for time served in a plea agreement reached by Hylton’s attorney, Phillip Hayes, and Assistant District Attorney Lauren Arizaga.
Hylton was scheduled to appear before Judge J. Carlton Cole in Dare County Superior Court on July 8 to face felony rape, felony kidnapping, felony cocaine and misdemeanor marijuana charges.
When case number 56 came up during the court’s calendar call, Arizaga said, “That was previously disposed of by plea.”
In the plea agreement settled on July 1 in Camden County Superior Court, Hylton pled “no contest” to two misdemeanor charges – assault on a female and attempted crime against nature. He was sentenced to 75 days imprisonment for the first offense and “given credit for 75 days spent in confinement prior to the date of this Judgment as a result of this charge.” Sentenced to 45 days on the second charge, he was “given credit for 45 days spent in confinement prior to the date of this Judgment as a result of this charge.”
Hylton, 55, was arrested in Kill Devil Hills on Aug. 16, 2008 and charged with forcible sexual assault, possession of schedule II cocaine, kidnapping and possession of less than 1/2 ounce of marijuana. He had performed at Port O’Call on Aug. 15 and allegedly assaulted a 23-year-old woman at 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 16 at the Colony IV Motel in Kill Devil Hills. The Kill Devil Hills Police Department said the kidnapping charge stemmed from the victim allegedly being held against her will. The victim was a former Dare County resident who was visiting the area.
Released on $52,000 secured bond, Hylton later left the country and did not show up for a court date in 2010. Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett issued a warrant for Hylton’s arrest with a $1 million bond for failing to appear. He was found in Paraguay last November without a proper visa, deported and later extradited from Florida to North Carolina to stand trial on the rape, kidnapping and drug charges.
Hylton had faced as much as 20 years in prison if convicted of all felony charges.
You must log in to post a comment.