Jun 20 - Cassidy Denied Bail, Booked Into Medium-Security Prison

After surrendering himself to authorities in Philadelphia on Friday, where he was wanted for murder, Cassidy spent the weekend in a medium-security prison, where it's expected he'll remain for the foreseeable future.

The rapper was denied bail — as is the case with all defendants accused of murder in Pennsylvania — at his arraignment on Saturday, where he was officially charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated a*sault and various weapons offenses (see "Cassidy Turns Himself In On murder, Weapons Charges"). Cassidy (real name Barry Reese) did not enter a plea during his arraignment, and he won't be asked to until his case is brought to trial — which could be several months from now.

A spokesperson for the district attorney's office said it's likely Cassidy's detainment at Philadelphia's Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility will continue until, and throughout, his trial.

Like all new inmates at the facility, Cassidy underwent an admissions and diagnostics process that includes classification; orientation; medical examination; issuance of an inmate handbook, clothing and personal care items; and a social-service a*sessment.

At a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, it's expected that prosecutors will present whatever evidence they've collected against Cassidy to a judge, who will then rule on whether the state has enough to hold the rapper for trial; the prosecution could even call medical examiners and eyewitnesses in to provide pretrial testimony.

Police claim Cassidy and two other men, armed with .45 and .40 caliber handguns, 9 mm pistols, AK-47 a*sault rifles and 7.62 mm rifles, fired on three unarmed men during an argument behind a house in the rapper's northwest Philadelphia neighborhood, k*lling one of them — 22-year-old Desmond Hawkins. The other two victims were treated at a hospital for gunshot wounds and released.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of one of the other alleged shooters. The identity of the third gunmen is not known.

Cassidy's second album, I'm a Hustla, is due June 28.

— Chris Harris

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