Rapper DMX Pleads Guilty to Animal Cruelty and Other Charges

His life on the run finished for now, DMX pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty today, finally 'fessing up to the fact that he treated his dogs poorly. As reports from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office show, DMX -- whose real name is Earl Simmons -- left a veritable kennel...

By Ray Stern

December 30, 2008

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His life on the run finished for now, DMX pleaded guilty to a charge of animal cruelty today, finally 'fessing up to the fact that he treated his dogs poorly.

As reports from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office show, DMX -- whose real name is Earl Simmons -- left a veritable kennel of dogs in the hot sun last year at his Cave Creek house without enough food or water. The busy entertainer claims he had hired someone to take care of the animals, and that person is to blame.

Even if that's true, DMX was ultimately responsible for the canine suffering he caused. Whether he's ready to atone for his past promotion of dog fighting, only time will tell.

On top of the misdemeanor cruelty charge, the rapper also pleaded guilty to three felonies: narcotics possession, marijuana possession and theft. He awaits his January 30 sentencing at the Maricopa County jail.

A news release from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office states that DMX is expected to be sentenced to a minimum of 90 days in jail, plus probation. As part of his probation, he won't be allowed to own any animals or firearms. -- Ray Stern

Ray Stern is the former news editor of Phoenix New Times. He worked as a newspaper reporter in Arizona for more than two decades. He's won numerous awards for his reporting, including the Arizona Press Club's Don Bolles Award for Investigative Journalism.

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