Kodak Black Pleads Not Guilty to Drug and Evidence Tampering Charges, Requests Jury Trial
Rapper Kodak Black, born Bill Kapri, has entered a ‘not guilty’ plea to charges of third-degree cocaine possession, tampering with physical evidence, and improper stop/stand/park. The artist, currently out on a $5,000 bond, is demanding a trial by a jury of his peers, according to court documents obtained by XXL on December 11.
Kodak Black was allegedly found with cocaine after police approached his Bentley SUV, parked in the roadway on December 7. The arrest report indicates that officers observed a styrofoam cup with a substance that “smelled like alcohol,” leading to a probable cause search of the vehicle. Police claim to have discovered “cannabis wrapping paper and suspect cannabis residue” on the car’s console, as well as white powder falling from Kodak Black’s clothes.
The arrest report states that the officer believed the rapper was attempting to discard illegal narcotics, with Kodak Black’s mouth reportedly “full of white powder.” The artist was booked into Broward County Jail following the incident.
This legal trouble comes after Kodak Black faced drug trafficking charges in July when authorities allegedly found 31 pills believed to be oxycodone in his possession, along with over $70,000 in cash. The rapper has claimed to be a victim of a police cover-up, arguing that the pills were over-the-counter Tylenol, not oxycodone, in a motion to dismiss the case.
Amidst these legal challenges, Kodak Black has faced criticism for his recent behaviour, prompting him to promise a change in his ways. In November, he released an 18-track album titled “When I Was Dead” without prior announcement. In a social media message around the album’s release, he expressed a commitment to improvement, acknowledging areas where he needed to do better. The rapper’s physical and mental health has raised concerns within the hip-hop community, particularly following an October interview where he appeared unstable to viewers and listeners.
