A rap artist convicted on firearms charges in a 1994 shooting is back in jail because authorities say anti-police lyrics on his latest album violate conditions of his parole. Shawn Thomas, who records under the name C-Bo, was arrested Tuesday and held without bail while the state Board of Prison Terms considers the case.
Punishment ranges from admonishment to a year in jail.
He is charged with threatening public officials, promoting violence against public officials, promoting a gang lifestyle, criminal behavior and violence against law enforcement. Other lyrics threaten the Sacramento County district attorney, the Sacramento sheriff, a police officer and a county probation officer, state Department of Corrections spokesman Tip Kendall said. Thomas was convicted of illegal use of a firearm in a gang shooting that led to one man's death. He was paroled once, arrested on a violation, reincarcerated, then paroled again last year on condition he do nothing to promote a gang lifestyle. Thomas' attorney, John Duree, said the new arrest violates Thomas' right to free speech.