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Busta's Legal Problems Multiply

Tue., Jul. 10, 2007 3:09 PM PDT by Josh Grossberg

Busta Rhymes has quadrupled his legal trouble.

The rapper-actor is going to be loading up his legal docket after a Manhattan judge refused a petition by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to consolidate two assault cases pending against Rhymes. Add to that a pair of driving violations, and the hip-hop star is now facing four potential trials.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Larry Stephen's decision Tuesday pleased defense attorney Scott Leemon because it denied prosecutors the chance to use the litany of charges to show jurors a pattern of behavior on the part of the In the Ghetto rapper.

"The decision by the court validates what we submitted in our papers detailing the defense we have to these assault cases," the lawyer told E! Online. "The jury will get to try each case on the facts and not going to be looking things that are irrelevant."

The judge put forward no public reason for his opinion to avoid leaking defense arguments, which were submitted under seal. After the ruling, Rhymes gave Leemon a high-five and kissed a courtroom sketch artist on the cheek.

Edison Alban, a spokesperson for the D.A., declined to comment, except to note that each case will be tried consecutively.

The first assault complaint was filed last summer by a 19-year-old man, who claims he was roughed up by the entertainer after spitting on Rhymes' SUV. The second complaint came from a 39-year-old man, reportedly Busta's former driver, who says he was beaten up by Rhymes last Christmas in a beef over money.

The prosecution's motion to link the misdemeanor assault charges did not apply to a pair of driving arrests Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, has racked up in the past six months.

The first infraction occurred in February, when the multiplatinum-selling star was pulled over for running a red light and charged with driving with suspended license. The second violation stemmed from a May arrest on misdemeanor charges of drunken driving and driving with excessively tinted windows.

The driving violations may still be resolved via plea agreements, though given the 34-year-old emcee's track record in negotiating deals with prosecutors, we wouldn't bet on it.

Rhymes has twice rejected a plea bargain that would have sent him to jail for one year for the two alleged assaults.

In February, the Brooklyn-born artist initially agreed to consider an offer by Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy in which he would have pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and avoid jail, and instead serve three years' probation, perform community service and attend anger-management classes.

But the judge rescinded the offer after Rhymes was collared two days later for the suspended license. In May, the entertainer turned down a follow-up offer from prosecutors that was not as enticing—one year in jail for each assault charge, to be served concurrently, plus an added $500 fine for driving with a suspended license.

Rhymes has pleaded innocent to all charges.

Leemon has previously claimed the Grammy winner is being unfairly targeted by New York police for refusing to cooperate in the investigation into the 2006 shooting death of his bodyguard, Israel Ramirez, outside a Brooklyn warehouse. The murder remains unsolved.

The next hearing for all four of Rhymes' cases is set for Sept. 5.