Mystikal Pleads Guilty to Third-Degree Rape in Ascension Parish

Mystikal pleaded guilty to third-degree rape, court records show, as of March 19, 2026, marking a major development in a case tied to an alleged assault at his Louisiana residence nearly four years ago.

Court filings indicate the 55-year-old performer, legally named Michael Lawrence Tyler, entered the guilty plea Tuesday in an Ascension Parish courtroom. Records list a potential sentence of up to 25 years behind bars without the possibility of parole, probation or suspension of sentence; he is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15. Tyler has been held without bond at the Ascension Parish Jail since his 2022 arrest in Prairieville, roughly 18 miles from Baton Rouge, on allegations that he raped and choked a woman at his home. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The musician, a New Orleans native who rose to national attention in the 1990s, is known for charting singles and past Grammy recognition. He previously pleaded guilty in 2003 to sexual battery and received a six-year prison term. That same year he earned Grammy nominations, including for the album Tarantula and a solo rap performance. The plea entered this week resolves one count brought in connection with the incident at his residence nearly four years ago and sets a clear path to the upcoming sentencing hearing.