A young South Side rapper known as Lil Reese was arrested recently after police issued a warrant connected with trespass, battery, and mob action charges. The Chicago resident was reportedly sleeping in a vehicle at the time of the arrest and is being held in lieu of posting bail.
There is not a lot of detail available about the specifics of the case, but many believe that the arrest was connected to a viral video that spread around the internet earlier this year.
The video was low quality but showed the young man engaging in a physical altercation with a woman. He faced harsh criticism when the video circulated widely.
This is not the young man’s first encounter with criminal allegations. He has previously pleaded guilty to burglary charges and was stopped by police last month for driving without insurance or a license and for violating traffic laws.
As with anyone who is accused of a crime, the arrest could have a negative impact on his current employment situation as well as his prospects in the future. While the music industry is not known for particular concern over criminal accusations, a conviction on these charges could affect the man’s ability to earn a living in other ways, such as through endorsement deals or promotional appearances. For those who are not in as forgiving of an industry, criminal charges could lead to being fired or could make it more difficult to find work in the future. All criminal allegations should be taken seriously by the accused, particularly when they have a previous conviction on their record, which could lead to harsher penalties for the present charges.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Rapper Lil Reese arrested while sleeping in car,” Geoff Ziezulewicz, April 29, 2013.