Taken From Wire Reports
A Birmingham, Alabama rapper received jail time for a music video he participated in that allegedly glorifies cop-killing, Al.com reports.
Mose Leonard, 20, was already in court May 15 for charges of unlawfully breaking and entering into a vehicle. This came a day after he posted the video on YouTube. A judge granted him youthful offender status and suspended his original three-year sentence.
However, once Judge Katrina Ross saw Leonard’s video, she quickly changed her mind. “Today we have so many kids that get on Facebook and social media and do some crazy stuff,” the Jefferson County judge said. “I admonished him with regards to the video.”
Leonard was one of a few youths who participated in the clip. The three-minute video is a tribute to Devante Kyshon “Red Man” Hinds. Hinds was killed May 9th when he allegedly tried running a deputy down with a car. Responding officers shot him dead. He was also reportedly involved in a heroin deal, officials said.
The video calls for leaving “police bleeding” and “dropping a cop.” Officers are taking the words seriously; apparently, the images were filmed by the city’s GTO gang, allegedly involved in many local crimes.
Prosecutors showed Ross the video so he wouldn’t get youthful offender status. She was upset because she had previously warned Leonard about his social media habits. “He got back on Facebook without his father’s knowledge,” she added. Leonard’s dad is heavily involved in his life and reportedly is upset about his son’s path.
“They put everything out there and have no clue how it will affect them when they’re 25 and decide they want to do something productive with their life,” Ross said.
Leonard will serve a month behind bars. He could end up serving the full three years if he gets in trouble again. He also missed Hines’ funeral because of the sentence, a point Ross wanted to drive home.
“He wanted to go to the funeral and I didn’t allow that either,” she said. “Hopefully it will open his eyes up.”
