The rapper known as “The Game” pleaded not guilty Monday to charges that he hit and threatened an off-duty police officer during a basketball game at Hollywood High School.
Jayceon Taylor, 35, is charged with one felony count of making criminal threats and one misdemeanor count of assault and battery that could carry up to three years in prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Taylor — who is free on $50,000 bail — was escorted out of court by a group of Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies.
Taylor and an off-duty Los Angeles police officer were on opposing basketball teams during a game March 29. After Taylor was accused of committing a hard foul, he allegedly approached the officer, struck him and threatened to kill him, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Taylor pleaded no contest in February 2008 to possession of a firearm in a school zone for pulling out a weapon after getting into a dispute at a pickup basketball game at the Rita Walters Educational Learning Complex in South Los Angeles in February 2007.
He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and placed on three years probation, and ended up serving eight days of the jail term before being released.
—City News Service