`Puffy' Combs Indicted On Stolen Weapons Charge; Atty. Johnnie Cochran Joins His Legal Team

Jet, Jan 31, 2000

Grammy Award-winning rap music legend Sean `Puffy' Combs recently was indicted on charges that he had stolen weapons in his possession when he left a New York nightclub where a shooting had occurred.

Prosecutors have alleged that one gun was found in Combs' sports utility vehicle and the other was thrown out. If convicted, Combs, 30, could get up to 15 years in jail.

Two of his associates, bodyguard Anthony Jones and rapper Jamal `Shyne' Barrow, were also named in the indictment.

Several people were wounded in the shooting inside the Club New York on Dec. 27. Combs and girlfriend, actress/singer Jennifer Lopez were both arrested after the vehicle drove away from the club, reportedly running a red light. Lopez, who starred in Selena and Out of Sight, reportedly was handcuffed to a bench for rive hours before being released.

Combs and Lopez were reported to be in the back seat of the vehicle. He was charged with possession of a 9mm pistol that was found in the front of the car and another stolen 9mm that was reportedly thrown from the vehicle. It has been reported that both guns had been fired.

Combs was charged with second-degree possession of a weapon, meaning he had a loaded gun with intent to use it.

Combs denied the allegations against him. "The decision to indict me is wrong," he said in a statement. `I'm innocent and we will prove it. I am putting my faith in God and I know my name will be cleared.'

To help clear his name, he secured the legal services of Johnnie L. Cochran, who practices law both in California and New York. Cochran told JET: "This case has been blown way out of proportion. We have to bring it back down to reality. I have known this young man for a while and I'm coming aboard the team to try and bring this thing back down."

Combs had held a news conference following the arrest, but has recently avoided media microphones. His public relations firm, the Terrie Williams Agency, released a statement that said: "As we have always maintained, Sean Combs had nothing whatsoever to do with the shooting that occurred inside Club New York on December 27,1999. Further, we want to make it clear that at no time during the evening in question was Mr. Combs in possession of, or in control of, any weapon. Mr. Combs intends to plead not guilty to the charges filed against him. We are confident that once ail the facts are carefully reviewed he will be completely exonerated. Unfortunately, this case has developed a life of its own that has resulted in the filing of charges that are entirely without merit. We believe that the District Attorney and the Grand Jury have relied on legal theories that are defective as a matter of law and on witness statements that are either false or inaccurate.

We ask the public, Sean's millions of fans and those with whom he is involved in various business ventures to withhold judgment until the case is over."

The story has taken on a life of its own as many tabloid television shows have wondered publicly if Combs and Lopez's careers will surfer from this legal setback. Some of the shows also questioned whether or not Lopez should stay with Combs.

Lopez released a statement saying that she never saw Combs with a weapon on the night of the arrest. She issued a statement that said: "I am surprised and saddened to learn of the indictment against Sean Combs. I support him wholeheartedly throughout this difficult rime."

Combs has had previous run-ins with the law. Last spring he was arrested for allegedly beating a music industry executive, breaking his arm and jaw. After pleading guilty, Combs was ordered to undergo counseling.

One of rap music's biggest success stories, Combs is estimated to have earned $53 million in 1998 alone. He was freed on $10,000 bail and due in court Feb. 14.