Kodak Black could have a new jail cell in his future as prosecutors in South Carolina prepare to ‘aggressively’ pursue a sexual assault charge against him after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump in a separate federal case.
The 23-year-old rapper, whose real name is Bill Kahan Kapri, has spent the past two years in a federal penitentiary after being convicted of making a false statement in order to buy a firearm in 2019.
Kodak is now set to be released halfway through his 46-month sentence after receiving one of the dozens of pardons Trump issued this week hours before leaving office.
But his legal woes are far from over, because Trump’s pardon doesn’t shield him from the pending sexual assault case he’s facing in state court in Florence County, South Carolina.
Kodak was indicted on a felony charge of first-degree sexual misconduct after prosecutors said he raped an 18-year-old woman in a hotel room after a concert in 2016.
The case was disrupted last year when the coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension of jury trials, but prosecutors haven’t forgotten about it.
Kodak Black could have a new jail cell in his future as prosecutors in South Carolina prepare to ‘aggressively’ pursue a sexual assault charge against the rapper after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump in a separate federal case
Kodak, whose real name is Bill Kahan Kapri, has spent the past two years in a federal penitentiary after being convicted of making a false statement in order to buy a firearm in 2019
Florence County Solicitor Ed Clements on Thursday told TMZ that his office will continue pursuing the case ‘aggressively’ until it goes to trial or Kodak accepts a plea deal.
Clements also told Courthouse News that he hopes to have Kodak transported to South Carolina after he is released from federal prison. A date for his release has not been set.
Kodak was indicted on a felony charge of first-degree sexual misconduct in 2016 after prosecutors said he raped an 18-year-old woman in a hotel room after a concert. He is pictured in a mugshot from that year
Court documents supporting the sexual assault charge allege that Kodak forced himself on the college-age woman in a hotel. He allegedly bit her neck and breast while she ‘repeatedly told [him] to stop’.
‘Her injuries were documented in a sexual assault kit that was completed by medical personnel,’ an affidavit for Kodak’s arrest states.
The rapper’s attorney in the case, Beattie Ashmore, responded to Clements’ remarks by telling TMZ: ‘Aggressively prosecute? It’s been four years. That speaks volumes. Kodak was on bond and on tour for two years before his federal case even began.’
But Ashmore indicated that he is fully prepared to continue fighting for his client, adding: ‘Ed’s a very fine and experienced prosecutor and I look forward to once again speaking with him about this case. It’s been awhile.’
If convicted on the felony sexual misconduct charge, Kodak could face up to 30 years in state prison.
Kodak posted this photo of himself wearing a jail jumpsuit on Instagram in 2019 after he was sentenced to 46 months in prison for lying on a federal document to obtain a gun
Kodak has an extensive rap sheet dating back to his teenage years, when he was placed in juvenile detention on three separate occasions.
In 2016 he was arrested twice in Florida on charges including armed robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm and marijuana possession. He ended up agreeing to plea no contest to those charges in exchange for one year of house arrest and five years probation.
But prosecutors revoked that plea deal at the last minute after discovering two outstanding warrants for Kodak’s arrest – one for the sexual assault in South Carolina and another for marijuana possession in Florida.
He pleaded no contest to the drug charges and served four months in jail before being extradited to South Carolina.
Kodak was released from custody there in December 2016 after posting $100,000 bond.
Kodak crashed into the music scene in 2016. The rapper (pictured at a concert in 2018) is best known for the songs ‘Roll in Peace, ‘ZEZE’ and ‘Tunnel Vision’
After a few more brushes with state authorities in 2017 and 2018, Kodak found himself in hot water with the feds in April 2019, when he was arrested for weapons and drug possession at the US-Canada border.
Less than a month later he hit with two counts of making a false statement on a governmental form while attempting to purchase firearms.
He took a plea deal and was remanded to the Big Sandy federal penitentiary in Kentucky before being transferred to Thomson penitentiary in Illinois, where he is currently being held.
On Wednesday Kodak took to Twitter to express his gratitude over Trump’s pardon.
‘I Want To Thank The President @RealDonaldTrump For His Commitment To Justice Reform And Shortening My Sentence,’ he wrote.
‘I Also Want To Thank Everyone For Their Support And Love. It Means More Than You Will Ever Know. I Want To Continue Giving Back, Learning And Growing.’
Last fall Kodak reportedly pledged to donate $1million to charity if he received a pardon, but it’s unclear if he plans to follow through.
Kodak was among a multitude of high-profile figures pardoned by the now-former president, including fellow rapper Lil Wayne and ex-Trump campaign manager Steve Bannon.
On Wednesday Kodak took to Twitter to express his gratitude over Trump’s pardon
Kodak was among a multitude of high-profile figures pardoned by Trump on Tuesday
