Busta Rhymes is charged with the Dec. 26 assault of former driver Edward Hatchett, 39, during a dispute over back pay in the rapper’s office at 84 West Broadway. He’s also charged of assaulting 19-year-old Robert Lebron, a fan who allegedly spit on the rapper’s Maybach, after an Aug 12, 2006 concert on Randall’s Island. Police said Busta kicked Roberto Lebron several times in the head and chest, causing a concussion.

Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy offered Rhymes a sentence of five days community service and six months of anger management classes after private discussions at her bench with Assistant District Attorney Harrison Schweiloch and Rhymes’ attorneys, Scott Leemon and Robert Kalina. The rapper would also be ordered to give two weeks worth of anti-violence lectures to young adults.

If he accepts Kennedy’s deal, which would cover both third-degree assaults, Busta would also be on probation for three years. The judge told the rapper he had until March 26 to accept the deal or go to trial, where he could face up to two years in prison. If he accepts the deal and meets conditions of the proposed sentence, the charges would be dropped in six months.

Schweiloch, who called Busta Rhymes a “violent predicate felon,” had earlier offered six months in jail and orders of protection for both victims in the alleged assaults, which Leemon rejected.

Busta, who remains free on $3,500 bail, did not speak in court and declined to speak to reporters.

Police have tried to question him as a potential witness in the February 2006 shooting death of his bodyguard Israel Ramirez. Police say Rhymes so far has refused to cooperate.

Source : Metro and All Hip Hop