Judge Allows T.I. To Attend Easter Service
March 20, 2008
- RB Hip-Hop
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| T.I. |
By Hillary Crosley, N.Y.
Rapper T.I. didn't get to host a Thanksgiving gathering at the suburban home where is under house arrest while awaiting trial on weapons charges, but he is being allowed to attend an Easter service.
A federal magistrate judge ruled Thursday that T.I., whose given name is Clifford Harris, can be away from home from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday so he can attend a service sponsored by New Birth Missionary Baptist Church at the Georgia Dome.
The judge says T.I. must be accompanied during the excursion by a court-approved monitor and one of his attorneys.
In November, T.I. had asked that he be allowed to host a Thanksgiving gathering at his home, but he withdrew the request after the government objected.
The 27-year-old was arrested Oct. 13, just blocks away and hours before he was to headline the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta. He was allegedly trying to buy unregistered machine guns and silencers.
Harris is charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. He was released on bond, but is under house arrest at a home in Henry County.
T.I.'s lawyers say evidence collected against him and statements he made to authorities were illegally obtained.
The lawyers have filed motions seeking to suppress evidence seized from his vehicle and statements he made on the day of his arrest.
A suppression hearing is scheduled for Monday, but federal prosecutors have asked for it to be postponed until April 4 because of scheduling conflicts involving two of their witnesses. The government says the defense has consented to the postponement. U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Baverman has yet to rule on that request.
Harris faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each weapons charge.
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