Last month, the US police executed a search warrant at the rapper’s home in Lake Worth, Florida, only to find a load of stolen iems. According to the police, furniture, artworks, a pool heater, bicycles and several other items were removed from a foreclosure property in the South Florida town of Lantana over the past couple of months.
Initially, the rapper told police he intended to purchase the home he was accused of burglarising, but had no contract or down payment on the property. Vanilla Ice, whose real name is Rob Van Winkle, also told the cops that he found several of the items he was accused of stealing on the curb and “he thought they were trash”, strangely.
Hence, he was arrested, charged with burglary and grand theft, and booked at the Palm Beach County Jail.
Source: NBC
He was released later.
Just today, NBC reported that Vanilla Ice has accepted a community service plea deal, allowing him to avoid prosecution in the break-in and burglary of a Florida home.
According to prosecutors, he agreed to 100 hours of community service with Habitat for Humanity and to pay more than USD1,000 in restitution after appearing in West Palm Beach Circuit Court. Under the plea deal, prosecutors will drop the charges against Vanilla Ice within 12 months if he completes 100 hours of community service with Habitat for Humanity in Palm Beach County and pays USD1,333.39 to the estate of the homeowner.
Vanilla Ice, right, leaves Palm Beach County court with his attorneys April 2, 2015 after accepting an agreement to perform community service and restitution in his grand theft case. (Lannis Waters / The Palm Beach Post)
After the hearing, he told the Palm Beach Post:
I’m happy to get this resolved. I never had any criminal intent. It’s just unfortunate, but here we are. I’m moving forward.
Rob Van Winkle is best known for his 1990 hit single “Ice Ice Baby”. Let’s hope he stays cool and stays out of trouble now!
Source: NBC, E!, Palm Beach Post.