Days after releasing a music video for his new song "Free Me," Detroit rapper 42 Dugg has asked a judge to do exactly that -- free him from house arrest while he fights federal gun charges in Georgia.
In a court filing submitted Wednesday, 42 Dugg's attorney, Marrisa Goldberg, cited increases in the rapper's "work demands" to justify releasing him from "home incarceration."
42 Dugg -- whose real name is Dion Hayes -- was released from jail back in March, but was put on house arrest in September. As it now stands, he needs a judge's permission every time he wants to travel, which his attorney argued has forced him to miss not just business opportunities but charity events.
"Even though the Court has allowed previous travel, Mr. Hayes has had to turn down many other requests from his music label as well as the community due to his current home incarceration," Goldberg wrote. She later added, "In addition to work obligations, Mr. Hayes has also had conversations with organizations regarding charity projects (i.e. turkey give-aways, iPad to student give-aways) that he wasn’t able to attend due to the quick turnaround time and the need for an order from the Court to leave his home."
Goldberg wrote that she tried to discuss the issue with federal prosecutors but so far they've ignored her.
If 42 Dugg's motion fails, it could mean he'll stay on house arrest for months awaiting a resolution in his case. A federal judge recently signed an order stating he cannot set a trial date until after February, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
42 Dugg was indicted by the Northern Georgia U.S. Attorney's office in March on federal charges of being a felon in possession of a Glock model 19x 9mm pistol. He was released from jail on a $10,000 bond.
Written by: Nate Gartrell
