It looks like T.I. isn't going anywhere. At least, not today. At a hearing this morning, the rapper's legal counsel requested that he be released on $2.2 million bond and allow him to have monitored home confinement while he awaits trial on weapons charges.
It was proposed by his attorney, Ed Garland, that someone would be put in T.I.'s home 24 hours a day to monitor activities there.
T.I., whose real name is Clifford Harris, would also have to submit to electronic monitoring. Only those on a preapproved list of visitors would be able to enter the home. Harris would surrender his passport and his right to drive, and would submit to random searches of the home and random drug screening.
According to CNN, magistrate Alan Baverman said he would need more time to consider the bond request. He then startled the courtroom by requesting that T.I. come up with the full $2.2 million bond in cash. Also, according to the AP, Baverman said he will reserve his ruling until a home monitor can be approved by the court, pretrial services officials and prosecutors.
Another hearing is set for next week on October 26.
Meanwhile, several record company executives, including some from Atlantic Records, were seated in the courtroom. Officials said they were prepared to offer signature bond on Harris' behalf in excess of $1 million.
Prosecutors countered that because of Harris' criminal history and because he was arrested while allegedly trying to buy machine guns, he poses a flight risk and danger to the community.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting today that during Friday's hearing, it was revealed that T.I. had up to a half-pound of marijuana in his vehicle at the time of his arrest. Baverman reportedly expressed distress after learning T.I. had told a pretrial services officer during a recent interview that he hadn't smoked marijuana in more than a year. When he was booked last weekend, T.I. allegedly told federal agents he had recently smoked marijuana, prior to the BET Awards.
T.I. was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on weapons charges, including possession of machine guns.
His indictment followed his arrest last Saturday for allegedly possessing unregistered machine guns and silencers and of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.
Harris, 27, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.
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