Rapper Juvenile freed from Orleans jail, arrested in St. Charles Parish

Rapper Juvenile performs with Manny Fresh at Congo Square during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Sunday, May 2, 2010 (Photo by Keith Marszalek / NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)(Keith I. Marszalek)

By Doug Maccash

New Orleans rap star Juvenile, whose non-stage name is Terius Gray, spent Father's Day weekend in the Orleans Justice Center jail, after having been arrested early Saturday morning (June 17) on charges of failure to pay child support and contempt of court.

Two days later, Gray was released from the custody of the jail on Broad Street and immediately turned over to St. Charles Parish sheriff's deputies, who took Gray into custody on a similar but unrelated charge.

According to the St. Charles Parish clerk of court's office, Gray was transported to St. Charles Parish to answer charges dating to 2001, when Shannon Horn began seeking child support payments. Gray, 42, whose first name is spelled Terrius in court documents, is accused of having failed to appear in court for a hearing stemming from that dispute. St. Charles Parish 29th Judicial District Court Judge Robert Chaisson issued a warrant for Gray's arrest in 2011.

Another St. Charles Parish judge will consider the charges facing Gray early Tuesday (June 20) afternoon.

Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Nakisha Ervin-Knott had ordered that the hip-hop artist pay $154,000 to Dionne Williams for support of his son or spend 90 days in jail. He was held on $150,000 bond.

According to Orleans Parish court documents, Gray was found in contempt of court for failure to appear at a May 8 hearing, as well as for lack of payment.

Gray is accused of owing an additional $71,000 in child support payments to Williams dating from 2013 to present, but that did not figure in either his Orleans Parish or St. Charles Parish arrests.  

The influential entertainer is credited with helping establish the "bounce" style in New Orleans music in the 1990s with songs such as "Back That Thang Up." He is a member of The Hot Boys, a legendary hip-hop group that includes Lil Wayne.