KEY POINTS:
CHICAGO - A Cleveland judge scolded rapper Yung Joc for being late to court on Wednesday but allowed him to remain free on bond on a charge of having a gun in his carry-on bag at the city's airport, authorities said.
The Atlanta-based Joc, whose real name is Jasiel Robinson, 27, was arrested Sunday morning at a security checkpoint at Cleveland's airport with a handgun and armor-piercing ammunition in his luggage.
At the time, Robinson denied knowing about the gun.
He was freed on US$50,000 ($65,945) bond, but Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Michael Ryan issued an arrest warrant for Robinson after he missed a scheduled Wednesday morning court appearance, a spokesman for the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office said.
Robinson's lawyer apologised, saying the performer was out of town because of family obligations. Robinson showed up on Wednesday afternoon.
The judge chided Robinson but set him free on bond, scheduling his next court appearance for Jan. 25.
The concealed weapons charge carries a potential 18-month prison term, the prosecutor's office said.
Robinson's debut album "New Joc City" with the Grammy-nominated hit "It's Goin' Down" has sold more than a million copies last year. He released "Hustlenomic$" a few months ago.
- REUTERS
