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N.C. judge issues arrest order for reggae star Eek-A-Mouse
MANTEO, N.C.
© April 20, 2010
Volcanic ash-related flight cancellations in Europe forced Jamaican reggae star Eek-A-Mouse to miss his scheduled trial in Dare County this week on rape and kidnapping charges, but that didn't stop a warrant being issued for his arrest.
The musician, whose real name is Ripton Joseph Hylton, was in Amsterdam and could not fly to the United States, said Phillip Hayes, his Kitty Hawk attorney.
Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett issued an order Monday for Hylton's arrest for failure to appear at the designated time.
"It was difficult for me to understand why the judge thought this was willful," Hayes said after his motion to continue the case for 60 days was denied.
Hylton, 52, was charged in August 2008 with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree rape and possession of cocaine, all felonies, stemming from an incident in Kill Devil Hills.
Police reported that a 23-year-old woman said she was held against her will by the performer at an Outer Banks motel. Hylton denies the charges.
Hayes said the U.S. State Department had recently agreed to re-issue Hylton's visa, which had been unexpectedly revoked about a week before. Meanwhile, the singer's scheduled flight from Heathrow Airport in London to Raleigh-Durham was canceled and most air traffic in Europe was suspended.
The case will not be rescheduled until Hylton is served with the arrest warrant, Hayes sai
MANTEO, N.C.
© April 20, 2010
Volcanic ash-related flight cancellations in Europe forced Jamaican reggae star Eek-A-Mouse to miss his scheduled trial in Dare County this week on rape and kidnapping charges, but that didn't stop a warrant being issued for his arrest.
The musician, whose real name is Ripton Joseph Hylton, was in Amsterdam and could not fly to the United States, said Phillip Hayes, his Kitty Hawk attorney.
Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett issued an order Monday for Hylton's arrest for failure to appear at the designated time.
"It was difficult for me to understand why the judge thought this was willful," Hayes said after his motion to continue the case for 60 days was denied.
Hylton, 52, was charged in August 2008 with first-degree kidnapping, second-degree rape and possession of cocaine, all felonies, stemming from an incident in Kill Devil Hills.
Police reported that a 23-year-old woman said she was held against her will by the performer at an Outer Banks motel. Hylton denies the charges.
Hayes said the U.S. State Department had recently agreed to re-issue Hylton's visa, which had been unexpectedly revoked about a week before. Meanwhile, the singer's scheduled flight from Heathrow Airport in London to Raleigh-Durham was canceled and most air traffic in Europe was suspended.
The case will not be rescheduled until Hylton is served with the arrest warrant, Hayes sai