The 'Blue Bloods' actor/rapper has found himself locked up on a bench warrant on October 28 after his return trip from Canada flared up an old case dating back to 2001.
- November 13, 2019
AceShowbiz - Hip-hop pioneer Eric B. has been released from a New Jersey jail after he was taken into custody on an 17-year-old arrest warrant.
The rapper-turned-"Blue Bloods" actor, who was one half of duo Eric B. & Rakim, found himself locked up on a bench warrant on 28 October, after discovering an old case dating back to 2001 remained open.
At the time, he was pulled over by police officers for failing to have the proper license plates on his new Range Rover, but the traffic stop escalated and he ended up pleading guilty to aggravated assault and resisting arrest charges in early 2002.
His then-attorney, Paul Bergrin, allegedly told the star he did not need to appear for sentencing back then as he had already agreed to pay a $5,000 (£3,900) fine, but his no-show resulted in a bench warrant, which only resurfaced recently as Eric B. returned to the U.S. from a trip to Canada.
The musician, real name Eric Barrier, claims he never received a notice about the missed hearing, and attempted to resolve the matter through his current legal representative, Patrick Toscano, but ended up being arrested last month (October 2019).
He appeared before a judge on Tuesday, November 12, when Toscano's request to have his client released was granted, as long as he settled the outstanding $5,000 fine and agreed to return to court on November 22, reports NJ.com.
Eric B.'s former attorney, Bergrin, is currently serving time behind bars himself, after he was convicted on 23 counts, including murder, in 2013.
