Why Deamonte Kendrick Is in Jail After Being Found Not Guilty in YSL Trial

What's New

Deamonte Kendrick remains in jail due to an outstanding warrant despite being acquitted in the YSL trial earlier this month.

Kendrick, also known as rapper Yak Gotti, was denied bond on Wednesday for charges he received while in jail. In the ruling, the judge cited Kendrick's outstanding warrant for probation violations.

Why It Matters

Kendrick was indicted in 2022 alongside rapper Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and 26 others.

Kendrick was charged with multiple counts related to racketeering conspiracy and participation in criminal street gang activity, along with murder and drug and gun violations. He was acquitted on all charges on December 3.

Defendant Deamonte Kendrick at Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on November 26. Kendrick remains in jail after being denied bond due to an outstanding warrant. Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

What To Know

Kendrick pleaded guilty to gang, gun and drug charges in 2017. He was sentenced to 15 years commuted to time served, eight years on probation and five years suspended.

Kendrick was held in jail throughout the duration of the YSL trial. He was accused of having contraband in March and aggravated assault and battery of a fellow inmate in June.

Prosecutors argued these charges violated his 2017 probation. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melynee Leftridge signed the warrant for the alleged violation on Wednesday, one day after Kendrick's bond hearing.

Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney then said in his ruling that he could not grant Kendrick's bond until the outstanding warrant was resolved.

Kendrick's attorney, Kayla Bumpus, filed for emergency bond on December 9. Bumpus cited Kendrick being stabbed while in Fulton County Jail earlier that month as one of the reasons McBurney should grant the motion.

The district attorney's office opposed the motion and argued Kendrick is dangerous, as evidenced by his alleged involvement in the jail fight.

What People Are Saying

Bumpus said at a bond hearing on Tuesday: "It's very sad to say but, normally when I pick up a client where I can't get a bond immediately, that's a double client because they are going to get a jail case. It's almost inevitable."

What Happens Next

Kendrick will appear in front of Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker on January 8 to be arraigned on the aggravated assault charges. Whitaker presided over the YSL trial.

Christian Eppinger, Damekion Garlington, Demise McMullen and Tenquarius Mender are still facing charges in the YSL case and are expected to go to trial in February 2025.

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