
DETROIT--On Tuesday (4/10), a judge in Mount Clemens, Mich., will sentence Eminem on a felony count of carrying a concealed weapon. Though Eminem’s lawyers believe their client should be sentenced to probation, prosecutors want the controversial rapper to do some jail time.
"We’re hoping for probation, but we won’t really know what the judge’s final decision will be until Tuesday," said Howard Hertz, Eminem’s attorney.
Brian Legghio, another attorney representing Eminem in the case, said that people who are convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, but have no prior record, are typically sentenced to probation.
Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga, however, has told Detroit-area media that he is adamant that the rapper serve at least six months in jail.
Neither Marlinga nor Assistant Prosecutor David J. Portuesi returned calls made to their offices on Monday (4/9).
Judge Antonio Viviano will alert Eminem and his lawyers of his decision in his chambers before rendering it in court on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time, according to Hertz.
Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, was charged after he allegedly pistol-whipped John Guerra last June 4 at Hot Rock nightclub in Warren, Mich. Eminem claims that he saw Guerra kissing Eminem's now-estranged wife, Kim Mathers.
Eminem pled guilty to the concealed weapons count on Feb. 14. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. As part of the deal, Eminem and his attorneys can withdraw his guilty plea if they are unhappy with Viviano’s sentence. The case would then go to trial.
In a separate case, Eminem is charged in Oakland County, Mich., with carrying a concealed weapon and brandishing a handgun. He allegedly pulled the gun on Douglas Dail--who works for the rap group Insane Clown Posse--on June 3 at an audio electronics store in Royal Oak, Mich. On April 23, Eminem will head to Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Mich., for a pre-trial hearing on those charges. The hearing will determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial.