crime

RHOA Star Peter Thomas Faces Charges After Choking A Woman At His Restaurant

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Entrepreneur Peter Thomas apparently doesn’t live by the customer’s always right motto. Today (February 28), the 62-year-old found himself in an unfavorable situation, which accordingly brought upon criminal charges to his name. While at his Baltimore restaurant Bar One, Thomas allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and proceeded to choke her. According to The Neighborhood Talk, the victim, although unnamed, has been identified as the niece of reality star Tammy Rivera.

The victim, who was dining at the establishment, claimed to have noticed Thomas inebriated and in a bad mood. Correspondingly, she shared her observations with her friends. Thomas, who was sitting in the same section as her group, supposedly overheard the remarks and proceeded to act out of anger. According to the woman, the former Real Housewives of Atlanta alum had aggressively grabbed her throat and maintained pressure as staff members tried to intervene.

Thomas Allegedly Grabbed Tammy Rivera’s Niece By The Throat

Thomas, whose resume also includes P.R. work at an artist management company and a hip-hop firm, has yet to comment on the ordeal. But, his attack on Rivera’s niece has landed him criminal charges. During the course of his time on the show, Thomas appeared alongside his ex-wife Cynthia Bailey. The show followed the trials and tribulations he would run into while managing his businesses, including Bar One. Fans of the Real Housewives took to Twitter to share their opinions, with one user tweeting, “Peter Thomas choking a woman at bar one in Baltimore was not on my bingo card.” Others noted similarities between his current actions with other stars from the show, with one user writing, “him and Mia have also violence in common I guess.”

Unsurprisingly, this has not been the first time that Thomas has faced trouble with the law. In 2019, the television personality was arrested for allegedly writing fraudulent checks. After spending six days in the Miami-Dade County jail, Thomas was ultimately released, addressing the ordeal as a mistake in an Instagram post. The restauranteur was also under fire in 2021 when a Bar One employee alleged that he was bouncing paychecks. For more news on hip-hop and pop culture, be sure to check out HNHH.

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“Harlem” Actress Jerrie Johnson Accuses Film Director Marc Cayce Of Sexual Assualt

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After attending a movie premiere after party, actress Jerrie Johnson took to her Instagram earlier today (February 28) to share a disturbing encounter. She recounts being introduced to movie director Marc Cayce by a mutual friend. Following an unfriendly first meeting, Cayce allegedly disgraces Johnson’s gender identity and sexually assaults her. The actress, known for her work in Harlem, explained the situation while calling out the filmmaker for the interaction. “He whispered in my ear, ‘I don’t want to hurt your feelings brother,’” Johnson recalled, “and I said ‘My feelings don’t get hurt and why are you calling me brother, I’m not a brother,’ and this man proceeded to pinch my nipple.”

Johnson noted that Cayce had also nonconsensually “smacked” her friend’s butt earlier in the evening. In her post, the star included a screenshot of the 56-year-old’s profile alongside a google search of him. Cayce, who gained recognition for his first film, Nikita Blues, also is noted as a movie writer and producer. He has yet to address the claims Johnson has publically made against him.

Jerrie Johnson Calls Out Marc Cayce For “Disgusting” Experience

The 29-year-old actress concluded the post with a message: “Listen, I’m the wrong one. I don’t care about LA culture or industry culture or any of that- you should not be touching people inappropriately for ANY REASON.” Further, Johnson reflects that the interaction was “disgusting” and “inappropriate.”

Johnson, who identifies as a queer woman, recently reflected on her nonbinary identity, which she described to AutoStraddle. “This binary is so new and so American and so beneficial to the patriarchy and white supremacy, that I feel like it would be a disservice for me and my legacy for me to feed into any type of binary,” she described regarding her portrayal of Tye in Harlem, as well as her personal life. The actress goes on to explain the comedy show’s representation of diversity, noting the importance of “how we’re presenting people, how we’re writing things, how we’re casting things so that people can see people like me in more of a nuance across different mediums in the industry.” Season two of Harlem aired on Prime Video earlier this month. For more news on hip-hop and pop culture, be sure to check out HNHH.

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Evan Rachel Wood Denies Manipulating Marilyn Manson’s Former Accuser

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Marilyn Manson’s faced a number of accusations from former flings who accused him of heinous acts. However, one of his accusers, Ashley Morgan Smithline, recanted her statements in a recent court filing. Smithline accused Manson of rape and abuse during their relationship in the early 2000s shortly after others emerged with similar accusations. Earlier this month, she filed documents to court rescinding her claims, alleging that she faced pressure to publicly call out Manson from other accusers, such as Evan Rachel Wood and her girlfriend, Ilma Gore.

Smithline alleged Evan Rachel Wood and others manipulated her into making these claims against the rockstar. “I succumbed to pressure from Evan Rachel Wood and her associates to make accusations of rape and assault against [Manson] that were not true,” she said in a court filing. She also explicitly stated that she and Manson had a “brief, consensual sexual relationship.” While her claims have been previously corroborated by others, she claimed she was “repeatedly gaslit” into believing that she was abused.

Evan Rachel Woods Denies Smithline’s Claims 

(EXCLUSIVE, Premium Rates Apply) TORONTO, CANADA – SEPTEMBER 10: Evan Rachel Wood and Marilyn Manson at the Gala Screening of Sony Pictures “Across The Universe” during the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival held at the Roy Thompson Hall on September 10, 2007 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Wireimage)

In a recent court filing, Evan Rachel Wood slammed Smithline’s claims, denying that she manipulated anyone into making statements. Wood provided screenshots of text messages, DMs, and even an alleged voicemail of Manson’s lawyer contacting Smithline. “I never pressured or manipulated Ashley Morgan Smithline to make any accusations against [Manson], and I certainly never pressured or manipulated her to make accusations that were not true,” wrote Wood. Among the screenshots she included is one text where Smithline allegedly wrote, “I can’t breathe. I have no reason to make this up!” in response to her story getting published. 

Wood said that they only came in contact in 2019 after Smithline’s allegations against Manson. She said they met in person in October 2020 during a meeting with other alleged victims of Manson, where Smithline shared details of the abuse she endured. However, Smithline has since shut down Wood’s recent declaration in a statement to Rolling Stone. “Evan’s full of s—. That’s my comment. She’s saying anything she can to discredit me,” Smithline said. We’ll keep you posted on any further updates. 

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Kodak Black Will Enter Drug Treatment Program Following Arrest Warrant

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Kodak Black’s legal matters continue to weigh on him. Though he managed to get out of prison in 2021, he continues to deal with a plethora of issues. The rapper’s undoubtedly made some changes in his life, including enrolling in college. However, a judge signed off on an arrest warrant for him last week. The warrant went through the Broward County court, which stated that the rapper should be brought into custody immediately if any sheriff’s deputies encounter him due to a failed drug test. 

The warrant against the rapper stemmed from violating his bail conditions from his oxycodone trafficking case, specifically mandatory drug tests. In a matter of weeks, the agency he was supposed to report to stated that he failed to uphold his end of the bargain. On Feb. 3rd, Kodak Black didn’t report for a mandatory drug test and didn’t submit a sample. A week later on Feb 8th, they said that his sample came back dirty. They claimed they found traces of fentanyl in his tests. Shortly after, footage emerged of the rapper’s arrest. 

Judge Approves Kodak Black’s Drug Treatment

Things worked out for Kodak Black during his appearance in court on Tuesday morning. His attorney argued that a mix-up with Yak’s urine sample likely played a role in the test results. An employee for the lab that obtained the sample admitted there’s a possibility that an error occurred. From there, the judge and prosecution agreed to a hair sample instead to determine whether there were any drugs in Kodak’s system. However, the judge explicitly stated that the employee who took the urine sample shouldn’t conduct the hair sample. 

Ultimately, the judge ruled in favor of Kodak Black’s defense team who requested that he should enter a 30-day drug treatment program. Even more, the judge stated that Kodak could begin the program next week after he performs at Rolling Loud California. Yak, who came to court in a pink and yellow suit, thanked the judge before asking if he could have a Jolly Rancher from the bowl on the bench, which the judge approved. Check the clip above. 

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Tory Lanez Sentencing Date Postponed, Judge Lifts Gag Order

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It’s been nearly two months since a jury convicted Tory Lanez for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. The dramatic trial became one of the most discussed legal matters of the year, especially as new details surrounding Tory and Megan’s relationship emerged. Megan took the stand to testify against Tory, as well as her former best friend, Kelsey Nicole. Each shared their accounts of the evening, ultimately securing a win for prosecutors. Tory was convicted of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, possession of a concealed, unregistered firearm, and negligent discharge of a firearm. The rapper’s facing some serious time behind bars that will undoubtedly have a negative impact on his career. He’s facing over two decades in prison and the possibility of deportation, though he’s still aiming for an appeal.

In recent months, the rapper’s made several changes to his team. In mid-January, reports emerged that he hired Casey Anthony’s former lawyer, Jose Baez, to help with his appeal. Baez will work closely with Matthew Barhom and David Kenner, who famously represented Suge Knight on a robbery charge that led to a probation sentence. Over the past few months, they’ve prepared to file a motion for a new trial, beginning with postponing the sentencing date.

Gag Order On Tory Lanez Lifted

Though Tory Lanez was initially expected to face a judge for his sentencing last month, his plans to appeal have led to several delays. Per LA Mag’s Meghann Cuniff, the judge agreed to push back the sentencing date to April 10th, 2023 as the rapper and his legal team appeared in court. This will provide Tory’s team more time to prepare a new trial motion and give the prosecutors the opportunity to draft a written opposition to the request. 

In addition to getting the sentencing date postponed until next month, Judge Herriford also lifted the gag order on Tory Lanez that blocked him from speaking on Megan Thee Stallion or the case itself. The gag order was a point of contention prior to the trial beginning, even landing Tory behind bars for violating the restaining order against him. It seems likely that we might hear some sort of statement from him in the near future. We’ll keep you posted on further updates surrounding Tory Lanez’s case. 

Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Lawyer Claims Sex With His Accuser Was Consensual

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Cuba Gooding Jr.‘s lawyer, Gary Becker, says that his client had consensual sex with the woman who has accused him of raping her inside a New York City hotel room in 2013. Becker explained his plans for the trial to US District Court Judge Paul A. Crotty during a status conference in Manhattan federal court. He said that the defense will call two witnesses to trial who claim that the accuser returned to the bar where she met Gooding earlier in the same night and boasted about having consensual sex with him. Becker’s co-counsel, Ed Sapone, stated afterward that they actually have three witnesses from the bar.

The accuser, identified as “Jane Doe,” brought a lawsuit against Gooding in 2020, claiming that the actor raped her at Manhattan’s Mercer hotel in 2013. They had met at a bar in Greenwich Village earlier in the night. She says that she repeatedly told Gooding “no” and that he also attacked her a second time before she could flee the room.

Cuba Gooding Jr. In Court

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 13: Cuba Gooding Jr. Arrives at NYS Supreme Court for sentencing on October 13, 2022 in New York City. The Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr., plead guilty to charges of forcible touching and sex abuse. The criminal charges Gooding plead guilty to were brought against him after a worker at a New York nightclub alleged he forcibly kissed her, while he also faced charges stemming from three other incidents in which he stood accused of forcible touching or abuse. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

A defense attorney for Jane Doe, Casey Wolnowski, says that he’s “aware of these witnesses” but “vehemently denies their views on what transpired.” He added that he’s “confident the jury is going to give” his client’s testimony “the weight it deserves.”

A trial date for the case has not been set, but both parties discussed options on Monday. Judge Crotty confirmed he wants it done in 2023. “We’re not putting the trial off for a year,” he said, according to Insider. Crotty also complained about Gooding Jr’s team bringing up issues with evidence prepared by the accuser. “The time for discovery is over. Let’s get on with the trial,” the judge said.

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Jam Master Jay Murder Witness Accused Of Being “Unreliable”

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A key witness in the killing of Jam Master Jay, Lydia High, is “unreliable,” according to lawyers representing Ronald Washington. As noted in court documents obtained by AllHipHop, the Law Office of Ezra Spilke pointed out several “impairing factors,” in a letter to Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall. Among them are that the suspect was partially disguised in the first place as well as the fact that cross-racial and cross-ethnic identifications and identification procedures are often susceptible to bias. High was in the studio on the night of the legendary Run-DMC DJ‘s death.

In High’s initial statement, she said: “[T]wo black males entered the [sitting room] and both men had guns. Upon entering, one man remained in the doorway, the other man, who was wearing a knit wool mask and holding a gun, ordered Lydia [High] to the floor. The man with the mask then ordered Mr. Mizell to the floor, at which time Uriel Rincon stood up to assist . . . Mr. Mizell. The man with the mask then shot Mr. Mizell, fired another shot and fled out of the doorway with the other man.”

Jam Master Jay In 2001

Jam Master Jay of Run DMC performs on stage at the Respect Festival, Finsbury Park, London, United Kingdom, 2001. (Photo by Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images)

“According to Ms. High, only the shooter was wearing a mask,” Spilke says in the new documents. “Ms. High, who was interviewed by the police shortly after the shooting, failed to identify as a participant Mr. Washington, whom she later told the authorities she had known for ‘numerous years.’” He continued: “Nine months after the shooting, Ms. High’s account changed in that she then knew the identity of one of the participants: Washington, whom she identified from a photo array. In identifying Washington, High told the police that he was the person who pointed a gun at her and told her to ‘get on the ground’ while the masked person shot Mizell.”

Ronald Washington’s defense team also confirmed that they intend to call Dr. Geoffrey Loftus to the stand. Loftus is a psychologist with expertise in human memory, visual perception, as well as eyewitness identification. They plan to use his testimony to poke holes in High’s account. Spilke concluded: “Ms. High’s identifications of Mr. Washington—from the photo lineup or in open court may be unreliable for multiple reasons. Dr. Loftus’s descriptions of these reasons to the jury will provide the jurors with critical scientific information based on which they can allocate appropriate weight to Ms. High’s identifications. For these reasons, Dr. Loftus’s testimony is relevant and will be helpful to the trier of fact.”

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Former NFL Star Zac Stacy Sentenced To Six Months In Jail Following Viral Domestic Incident

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Ex-Rams running back Zac Stacy has met his sentencing for the viral video showcasing a domestic incident. In the video which surfaced in 2021, Stacy is seen slamming his former partner Kristen Evans to the ground, all while their child was present. The judge presiding over the case has ruled six months in prison with probation for the football player. Fox 35 Orlando reports that Stacy had entered into a plea deal earlier this month. Accordingly, some of the charges against him have been dropped.

Evans had requested that Stacy only receive probation. But after the trial, the state found that the defendant should receive a year in jail. Working with both requests, the judge ultimately ruled in the middle ground. Additionally, Stacy is to receive counseling among other services. The gruesome video captured on a home security camera showed the then 30-year-old violently attacking Evans, while their baby was on the couch beside them. Along with throwing her viciously to the floor, Stacy hit her repeatedly. He shouted at Evans, “you gon’ ruin relationships and talk about how I’m destructive?”

Zac Stacy’s Sentence Shortened By Evans Request For Probation

After the videos were released publically and Evans had filed her restraining order, Stacy had gone on to share his opinions of the incident. He claimed that his ex-partner had framed him, suggesting that she was unhappy with him wanting to end their relationship. In the video of his arrest, he mentions how he just left rehab for mental health issues. In addition, Stacy recounts how he found out that Evans had been cheating on him with his financial advisor.

Despite the unavoidable violence that was displayed in the initial domestic abuse video, Evans was the one to advocate for Stacy’s easy punishment. In court, he offered an apology to the mother of his child: “Chris. I’m very sorry for my actions. I’m very sorry for what happened, and how I hurt you. I just wasn’t mentally or emotionally healthy, and there is absolutely no justification for what I did, no excuses for my actions toward you. I never meant to hurt you, and even with the progression we made towards co-parenting, I hope deep down you can forgive me for what I’ve caused and done to you.” Currently, reports have stated that the two have shared custody of their child. For more trending news, be sure to check out HNHH.

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Alec Baldwin Sued By Crew Members Who Were There For The Shooting On “Rust” Set

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In the unraveling case of Alec Baldwin’s tragic shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust, three of the crew members who were present during the mishappening have spoken up. Dolly operator Ross Addiego, set costumer Doran Curtin and key grip Reese Price have collectively opened a lawsuit against both Baldwin and the Rust production. Their basis for suing is negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Together, Addiego, Curtin, and Price were three out of the seven members on set during the disaster, and all three relive harrowing accounts of the aftermath.

The plaintiffs express how the simultaneous decision to use active firearms on set and not maintain adequate safety protocols allegedly caused the death of Hutchins. They note how safer options, such as props and special effects, could have been used in place of a real gun. Additionally, the by-product of the incident resulted in emotional distress for the three crew members. Addiego, Curtin, and Price recall how they all had to jump in to help both Hutchins and director Joel Souza after the firearm struck.

Alec Baldwin Pleads Not Guilty

(Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

TMZ reports that the plaintiff’s documents also described that armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed “lacked essential experience.” It notes how Gutierrez-Reed handed the gun to Halls without having checked it, who then passed it along saying it was “cold.” Despite the negligence in handling the weapon, Baldwin still went on with using it. The plaintiff claims that the result of these circumstances was Hutchin’s death and the resulting anguish.

While Baldwin still awaits his preliminary hearing for Hutchin’s death, he has pleaded not guilty and waived his Friday (February 24) court appearance. The allegations of Santa Fe’s D.A. department claim that he has acted with “criminal negligence.” However, Baldwin remains his stance that other members of the production team were responsible for ensuring the safe usage of the firearm. Today, he remains free from jail. Within 60 days of pleading not guilty, both he and Gutierrez-Reed will face their respective hearings. Rust, on the other hand, is planning on reshooting in the upcoming months. For more news on pop culture and hip-hop, be sure to check out HNHH.

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Young Thug’s YSL RICO Trial Will Reportedly Call 1,200 Potential Jurors

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Young Thug’s RICO trial will reportedly call 1,200 potential jurors for evaluation, according to legal documents obtained by AllHipHop. While authorities arrested Thug and the rest of the YSL codefendants almost a year ago, the trial still isn’t underway. Moreover, it’s been subject to a lengthy and delayed jury selection process, which is no closer to completion after hundreds of participants. Furthermore, this selection process could take several more months, which only means more time behind bars in this high-profile case.

Still, the documents read as such: “The Jury Clerk shall send a sufficient number of subpoenas to result in the appearance of an additional 1200 prospective trial jurors: 300 on February 24, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.; 300 on March 17, 2023 at 9:30 AM; 300 on April 28, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.; and 300 on May 19, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. The prospective jurors will watch a pre-recorded reading of the indictment for this case and hear preliminary jury instructions from Chief Judge Glanville on these respective dates.” In addition, prospective jurors will have to answer a questionnaire from the court under oath and participate in “potential hardships” examinations, which aim to identify factors such as mental or physical disability.

Young Thug Trial Evaluating 1,200 Jurors

Meanwhile, Thugger’s list of witnesses includes accomplished music executives Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles. While his trial seems no closer to completion than it was months ago, at least he has people on his side. In the months left in the jury selection process, perhaps they’ll take advantage of the extra time to really think about what will go down- and how they’ll go about it. Meanwhile, many on social media and beyond are concerned for a witness’s life after an interrogation video leaked. Afterwards, many called the witness a rat and threatened his safety.

“This is a murder that’s about to take place with some very hot people,” they said in the leak. “And [inaudible] the stuff that I know right now should be able to help me get out my situation.” While it’s unclear whether this report refers to Lil Woody, if it’s not, that was another case of alleged snitching that many threatened. “It puts people’s lives in danger,” Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis stated. “My worst fear is that it is used as an intimidating tactic and people might be hurt.” Also, she wants Judge Glanville to open an investigation into the leak, which many believe might’ve come from the defense. However, defense attorney Keith Adams denied such claims, and pushed back on the D.A. wanting to restrict court access to the video. Regardless, stick around on HNHH for the latest on Young Thug and the YSL RICO case.

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