“Lil Boosie’’ Hatch pleaded not guilty Monday to murder, drug and conspiracy charges.

A somber Hatch, under heavy security, told state District Judge Mike Erwin he was “not guilty’’ of one count of first-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal institution, three counts of possession with intent to distribute narcotics, and three counts of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute narcotics.

The 27-year-old nationally acclaimed rapper — surrounded by six law enforcement officials — was dressed in an orange Dixon Correctional Institution jumpsuit with his wrists and ankles shackled.

His next scheduled court appearance is Oct. 14.

Hatch’s girlfriend, Walnita Decuir, and several other co-defendants were brought into Erwin’s court and arraigned on various charges after Hatch had left the courtroom.

Hatch’s attorney, Marcus Allen, spoke with reporters afterward and said Hatch is “absolutely not guilty.’’

“He meant what he said,’’ Allen, a Lafayette city prosecutor who practices entertainment law, said.

“We’re going to be preparing our defense. We have no idea what the evidence is. There’s a lot of rumor and innuendo,’’ he added.

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said his office has not decided whether to seek the death penalty against Hatch on the first-degree murder charge.

“Obviously it is an option,’’ Moore said.

Allen acknowledged he is not certified to handle death penalty cases, so he said other lawyers will be brought into the case.

Moore said the additional security was for the protection of Hatch and others in the courtroom.

Hatch is named in three separate indictments returned June 17 by an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury.

In one of them, Hatch is accused of paying a man to kill 35-year-old Terry Boyd, who was shot to death through a window while inside his home at 16837 Vermillion Drive on Oct. 21.

Hatch had pleaded guilty Sept. 22 to a third-offense marijuana possession charge and was sentenced Nov. 9 to 10 years in prison with all but the first four years suspended — meaning he would likely serve about two years.

Two other Baton Rouge males — 17-year-old Michael “Marlo Mike’’ Louding and Adrian Pittman, 36 — were indicted earlier this month on first-degree murder charges in Boyd’s killing. Louding also was indicted in five other deaths.

Moore has said investigators are looking into whether Hatch and others are involved in at least five other killings since early last year, including the February 2009 slaying of local up-and-coming rapper Chris Lynell “Nussie’’ Jackson.

In a second indictment, Hatch, Decuir and former Dixon guard Joshua Wilson are charged with conspiracy to introduce contraband — namely illegal drugs — into Dixon.

Hatch and Decuir, 25, pleaded not guilty to those charges. Wilson, 27, will be arraigned July 12.

In a third indictment, Hatch, Decuir and Dixon inmate Stacey Riley are charged on drug and conspiracy counts.

Hatch and Decuir pleaded not guilty to those charges. Riley, 36, will be arraigned July 12.

Also Monday, 32-year-old Reginald Youngblood, of Baton Rouge, pleaded not guilty in Erwin’s court to two counts of attempted first-degree murder in shootings on Feb. 22 and March 6.

Youngblood also is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the April 1 slaying of Charles Matthews and Darryl “Bleek’’ Milton.

P.S. With a lawyer looking like this, I don’t see things lookin up…sorry:

Source: 2TheAdvocate

Soooo let me get this straight….Kanye West, Kid CuDi, Big Sean and now Consequence are ALL coming out on September 14th? I guess they apparently haven’t learned from Grand Hustle’s attempt at doing the same thing to a lesser extreme….but I’m definitely anxious to see. G.O.O.D. luck fellas.

Former Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man pleaded guilty on Monday to evading state taxes over a four-year period, costing the music star more than $100,000 in fines and fees…he ended up paying a total of $106,000 in back taxes, penalties, fines and interest.  Pay attention to your financials, people.

Source: Yahoo! News