Snoop Dogg charged in JWA incident

Orange County prosecutors on Thursday filed felony charges against rapper Snoop Dogg stemming from a September incident at John Wayne Airport when he tried to board a plane while allegedly carrying a weapon.

Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus, was detained by Orange County sheriff’s deputies Sept. 27 after two airport security screeners found a 20-inch collapsible baton in his laptop case, Deputy Dist. Atty. Andre Manssourian said. That type of baton, which can shrink to eight inches, is considered a dangerous and illegal weapon, according to the district attorney.

An arrest warrant in the amount of $150,000 has been issued for his arrest.

Broadus, 35, of Sherman Oaks, did not realize the baton was in his case, said his attorney Donald Etra, and he did not believe it would have been considered dangerous.

Broadus, who was in town for performances, was not arrested or detained at the airport, but sheriff’s deputies took a report, confiscated the baton and submitted both to the district attorney, Orange County Sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino said.

Amormino said no further action was taken by Sheriff’s Department because Broadus’ reasoning for carrying the baton was reasonable and he was not suspected of being a terrorist.

“We take it on a case-by-case basis, and sometimes we can’t enforce the law to the letter of the law…. He should be careful what he brings to the airport, that’s for sure,” Amormino said.

Broadus was out of state Thursday and Manssourian and Etra said they are working out a date for Broadus’ surrender.

“They have cooperated on a potential surrender,” Manssourian said.

It is unknown where or when he will surrender, but when he does he’ll post bail and be released, Etra said.

“We are going to fight these charges with every available defense,” Etra said. “We believe there’s no basis for the charges — the D.A. knows this, Snoop knows this, and ultimately a jury will realize it.”

Broadus could face up to three years in prison if convicted of the charges, according to the district attorney.

Although Broadus also faces felony weapons and drug charges from a similar incident Oct. 27 at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, his attorney maintains Broadus wants to be known for his charitable work in his community, including his well-known sponsorship of a youth football league and his visits with American troops.

Broadus was arrested Oct. 27 after airport police allegedly found a gun and marijuana in his car, which was in the passenger loading and unloading zone, Bob Hope Airport spokesman Victor Gill said. Police initially approached the car because it was in violation of a vehicle code, Gill said. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 12 for that charge.

“We’re going to be fighting those charges with equal vigor,” Etra said.