DMX Ordered To Court For Bail Violations

Rapper DMX might have violated his bail conditions "in numerous respects" less than a month after his release post-arrest, a new court filing states.

DMX, whose legal name is Earl Simmons, pleaded not guilty on July 14 to evading $1.7 million in income taxes.

The magistrate judge presiding over Simmons's first court appearance granted the "Party Up (Up in Here)" artist bail pending trial.

Simmons was released on a $500,000 personal recognizance bond, signed by two financial responsible people, and backed by $50,000 in cash or property.

Simmons, 46, must undergo drug testing and/or treatment "as directed by (pretrial services)" — which supervises him while his case is pending — and he can't have a gun.

And while Simmons's travel is generally limited to the New York City area, a judge later agreed that he can travel for work — if pretrial services signs off on it, court proceedings revealed.

A new letter filed Wednesday, however, bodes poorly for Simmons.

"The court has received a report from pretrial services indicating that the defendant may have violated the terms of his pretrial release in numerous respects," Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff said in an order.

Rakoff, who's now presiding over the case, has ordered a bail hearing for 11 a.m. Friday.

"The defendant as well as his counsel and government counsel must appear," the order said.

When asked for comment, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office repeated the details of Rakoff’s order for a hearing.

Simmons' lawyer, famous defense attorney Murray Richman, said the issue largely stems from his client's brief trip out of town for family reasons.

"He went to St. Louis without getting permission from the pretrial services officer," Richman said. "It was for a personal situation with regard to the lady he's living with."

"There are other reasons," he said of pretrial service's claims. "We don't know what they are."

Richman said he'll fight for Simmons to remain out on bail.

"I'm concerned about his well being," he said.

SOURCE