Rapper DMX heads back to jail; may be released early

The 39-year-old rapper faced five counts of violating probation -- the result of regularly using illegal drugs, TMZ.com reports.

DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, appeared in a Phoenix, Arizona courtroom yesterday (Mar. 16) to face charges that he had last week, violated his probation by using cocaine.

Back behind bars
An Arizona judge officially sentenced the embattled rap star to six months in prison after pleading guilty to charges of probation violation by using illegal drugs following his arrest in Phoenix, Arizona last week (Mar., 09).

In addition to the jail term, the hip hop star DMX was sentenced to 20 months intensive probation by Maricopa County Court Commissioner Christine Mulleneaux.

DMX could escape the jail term and serve his sentence in rehab instead, after an appeal from a representative from the Pasadena Recovery Center in California, asking permission to treat the rapper at the treatment centre.

Rehab could save DMX from jail time
Even though DMX has been officially sentenced yesterday but he still could avoid his hard jail-time. He has been offered a way out of jail, thanks to reality TV's Dr. Drew Pinsky, the host of 'Celebrity Rehab' and 'Sober House.'

DMX could escape the jail term and serve his sentence in rehab instead, after an appeal from a representative from the Pasadena Recovery Center in California, asking permission to treat the rapper at the treatment centre.

Pinsky wants to help rapper
During the hearing, the rep approached the judge presiding over the case and presented a letter from celebrity therapist Dr. Pinsky asking for permission to help DMX kick his drug habit at the facility.

The judge seemed open to sending X to the California treatment facility, according to TMZ

Citing center co-founder Michael Bloom, Reuters reports that the rehab facility wanted to help the rap star.

"We made to the offer and we would take him in, if the court is OK with that," Reuters quoted him as saying, and further stating that Dr. Pinsky would be involved in his treatment.

Echoing the center’s opinion, defense attorney Glen Allen said, "If we never address the serious substance abuse issues that he has, this is an individual that we are going to see again in the wrong places. And we don't want to see him back before Your Honor ever again."

DMX’s long record of arrests
The New York-born rapper’s Mar. 9 arrest was just the latest in a string of his arrests for theft, drug possession, reckless driving, weapons possession and animal cruelty.

DMX, whose albums include ‘...And then There was X’ and who starred in the movies ‘Romeo Must Die’ and ‘Cradle 2 The Grave’, has been arrested five times in Arizona, on charges ranging from drug possession and identity theft to animal cruelty.

According to The Associated Press, DMX has been arrested by Maricopa County authorities five times, including an August 2007 raid on his north Phoenix home where they found several malnourished dogs as well as several dog carcasses. Guns, ammunition and drug paraphernalia were also found by authorities during the raid.

The rap star was released from jail in May after serving a 90-day sentence for felony convictions including cruelty to animals, theft and two drug counts.

DMX’s as a rapper
Born Earl Simmons in Baltimore, MD, on Dec. 18, 1970, DMX (Dark Man X) is a hard core rapper who within a year rose from the streets of Yonkers to become one of hip-hop's most popular and prolific stars.

DMX released his debut album ‘It's Dark and Hell is Hot’ in 1998 and released single ‘Get At Me Dog’ in the same year, which was a top-40 hit that pushed him into the upper tier of popular rappers.

With his immediate follow-up album, ‘Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood’, the rapper increased his audience exponentially. Both albums reached number one on the Billboard charts in their first week, making DMX the first recording artist in music history to have his first two albums reach number one within a year.