WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) - Judges in two cities issued bench warrants Wednesday for the arrest of rapper DMX, who failed to show up in court for either of his pending traffic cases.
``In truth, I do not know where he is,'' said Murray Richman, lawyer for the 36-year-old rapper (whose real name is Earl Simmons). ``Why would he be hiding out from a damn traffic infraction?''
He said the rapper, whose albums include ``It's Dark and Hell is Hot'' and ``Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood,'' was in Arizona on Tuesday but had promised to appear Wednesday in White Plains and Yonkers, both north of New York City.
``He said he missed a flight,'' Richman said. ``He's always missing flights.''
DMX, who has a long record of driving violations, was already a day late for White Plains City Court, but on Tuesday Judge Brian Hansbury had given him until 2 p.m. Wednesday to face charges stemming from a downtown pullover on June 2. Police officers said DMX was speeding, changing lanes dangerously, driving without a seat belt and using a suspended license.
Court Clerk Jennifer Ruggiero said the judge issued the warrant, which means Simmons ``can be picked up anytime, and if he's brought here he can be jailed.''
Richman said the judge agreed that if Simmons were produced within two weeks, he would ``listen to his reasons'' before ordering the rapper's $25,000 bond forfeited.
The bond was set when the rapper, who lives in Mount Kisco, missed two earlier court dates and spent a night in jail.
He has declined plea bargain offers from prosecutors.
Simmons was also due in City Court in Yonkers, where he was raised, on a charge of driving last October with a suspended license. Judge Charles Wood issued a bench warrant there.
``In truth, I do not know where he is,'' said Murray Richman, lawyer for the 36-year-old rapper (whose real name is Earl Simmons). ``Why would he be hiding out from a damn traffic infraction?''
He said the rapper, whose albums include ``It's Dark and Hell is Hot'' and ``Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood,'' was in Arizona on Tuesday but had promised to appear Wednesday in White Plains and Yonkers, both north of New York City.
``He said he missed a flight,'' Richman said. ``He's always missing flights.''
DMX, who has a long record of driving violations, was already a day late for White Plains City Court, but on Tuesday Judge Brian Hansbury had given him until 2 p.m. Wednesday to face charges stemming from a downtown pullover on June 2. Police officers said DMX was speeding, changing lanes dangerously, driving without a seat belt and using a suspended license.
Court Clerk Jennifer Ruggiero said the judge issued the warrant, which means Simmons ``can be picked up anytime, and if he's brought here he can be jailed.''
Richman said the judge agreed that if Simmons were produced within two weeks, he would ``listen to his reasons'' before ordering the rapper's $25,000 bond forfeited.
The bond was set when the rapper, who lives in Mount Kisco, missed two earlier court dates and spent a night in jail.
He has declined plea bargain offers from prosecutors.
Simmons was also due in City Court in Yonkers, where he was raised, on a charge of driving last October with a suspended license. Judge Charles Wood issued a bench warrant there.
