Kodak Black still faces sexual assault charges in South Carolina after Trump pardon

Kodak Black could have a new jail cell in his future as South Carolina prosecutors prepare to ‘aggressively’ pursue sexual assault charge against him after being pardoned by President Donald Trump in federal case distinct.

The 23-year-old rapper, real name Bill Kahan Kapri, has spent the past two years in federal penitentiary after being convicted of making a false statement in order to purchase a gun 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 stepping down.

But his legal woes are far from over, as Trump’s pardon fails to protect him from the ongoing sexual assault case he faces in state court in Florence County, South Carolina. .

Kodak was charged with 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 have not forgotten it.

Florence County District Attorney Ed Clements told TMZ on Thursday his office would continue to pursue 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.

Court documents supporting the sexual assault charge allege Kodak forced himself on the college-aged woman in a hotel. He allegedly bit her neck and chest when she repeatedly said [him] Stop’.

“His injuries were documented in a sexual assault kit that was filled out by medical staff,” says an affidavit for Kodak’s arrest.

The rapper’s attorney in the case, Beattie Ashmore, responded to Clements ‘remarks by telling TMZ:’ Prosecuting aggressively? It’s been four years. That says a lot. Kodak was on bail and on tour for two years before his federal affair even began.

But Ashmore said he was fully prepared to continue fighting for his client, adding: ‘Ed is a very knowledgeable and experienced prosecutor and I look forward to talking to him about this case again. It’s been a long time. ‘

If convicted of the sexual misconduct charge, Kodak could face up to 30 years in state prison.

Kodak has a long rap sheet dating back to his teenage years, when he was taken into juvenile detention three times.

In 2016, he was arrested twice in Florida for armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm, and possession of marijuana. He ended up agreeing not to challenge these charges in exchange for one year of house arrest and five years of probation.

But prosecutors revoked that plea deal at the last minute after discovering two outstanding arrest warrants for Kodak’s arrest – one for sexual assault in South Carolina and the other for possession of marijuana in Florida.

He did not dispute the drug charges and served four months in prison before being extradited to South Carolina.

Kodak was released from custody in December 2016 after posting a $ 100,000 bond.

After some additional contact with state authorities in 2017 and 2018, Kodak found himself in hot water with the federal government in April 2019, when he was arrested for possession of weapons and drugs at the Canada-US border.

Less than a month later, he received two counts of misrepresenting a government form while attempting to purchase firearms.

He accepted a plea deal and was returned to Big Sandy Federal Penitentiary in Kentucky before being transferred to Thomson Penitentiary in Illinois, where he is currently being held.

Kodak took to Twitter on Wednesday to express gratitude for Trump’s forgiveness.

“I want to thank 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. This means more than you will ever know. I want to continue to give back, to learn and to grow. ‘

Last fall, Kodak reportedly pledged to donate $ 1 million to charity if it received a pardon, but it’s unclear if it plans to follow through.

Kodak was one of a host of high profile figures pardoned by the now former president, including rapper Lil Wayne and former Trump campaign manager Steve Bannon.