For those out of the loop, Freddie Gibbs was arrested in France is currently being detained in Austria on account of rape allegations dating. He was extradited from France to Austria after a failed appeal attempt. His legal team released a statement today acknowledging that Gibbs has been officially charged with sexual assault by Austrian authorities in charge of the investigation, but he remains steadfast in his innocence.
The official charge is “sexual abuse of a defenseless or psychologically impaired person,” and carries a maximum possible prison sentence of 10 years. The alleged assault took place in 2015, and according to a spokesperson for Vienna’s criminal court, Gibbs “is alleged to have administered knock-out drops to a woman and then have abused her sexually while she was in a defenseless state.”
Gibbs’ lawyer released a statement maintaining the rapper’s innocence. He’s hoping to get out on bail shortly. We’ve copied the entire statement below, and will post updates as they become available.
“While Freddie Gibbs was charged with an offense today, it remains only an
allegation, and it does not in any way change the actual facts that Freddie Gibbs is
100% innocent.
He continues to pursue every available means to demonstrate that he is absolutely
innocent and that he has been both belatedly and wrongly accused. As the
investigation and process continues, Mr. Gibbs remains hopeful that a thorough,
searching and complete investigation will reveal the actual facts, including the
absence of any scientific, physical, or credible evidence implicating him, thereby
paving the way for his exoneration and return to his family and one-year old child. In
accordance with Austrian procedure Mr. Gibbs has not as yet had the opportunity to
provide the authorities and the Court with the substantial and compelling exonerating
evidence that he has compiled.
Consistent with the available legal practices and procedures in Austria, Mr. Gibbs
will ask the Court to release him on bail, under reasonable terms and conditions, as
was done in France.
Through counsel Mr. Freddie Gibbs has consistently remained fully cooperative
with law enforcement offices and judicial systems in both France and Austria and
will continue to do so.”