Judge Rejects Tory Lanez's Bid for Bail Pending Conviction Appeal

LOS ANGELES -- Rapper Tory Lanez was rejected today in a bid to be released on bail pending an appeal of his conviction for shooting hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion in the feet in the Hollywood Hills more than three years ago.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Herriford denied a motion by Lanez's attorneys asking that he be allowed to post bail. The judge called Lanez a potential flight risk, adding that the Canadian rapper is not a U.S. citizen. He also noted that Lanez had been convicted of a violence felony.

On Aug. 8, the 31-year-old Lanez -- whose real name is Daystar Peterson -- was sentenced to 10 years in state prison. He has been in custody since he was convicted Dec. 23 of one felony count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

In court Thursday, Lanez's attorney, Crystal Morgan, insisted that Lanez is ``not a threat to society'' or a flight risk. She noted that the rapper has a wife and 6-year-old son, both of whom are U.S. citizens.

``On top of that, his family owns property here in the L.A. area,'' Morgan argued, adding that Lanez has ``very strong ties to the community'' and always attended previous court hearings despite traveling abroad extensively.

Prosecutor Kathy Ta countered, however, that since his conviction, Lanez ``is much more a significant flight risk,'' noting that he has the financial resources to flee.

Lanez was in court in downtown Los Angeles for the hearing, wearing standard-issue orange jail clothes.
During the trial, Megan Thee Stallion testified that Lanez shot her during an argument on July 12, 2020, following a get-together at Kylie Jenner's home. She said she had no doubt that Lanez fired the shots, and that he later offered her $1 million not to say anything. According to the singer, Lanez told her to ``dance, bitch,'' and then shot her in the feet.

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