Despite facing a string of criminal charges, Cleveland rapper Lil Cray was recently allowed to film part of a music video in a local courtroom.
The shoot took place in Judge Michael Ryan’s courtroom at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice in Cleveland, Ohio.
Lil Cray, born Crayshaun Bates, is facing dozens of charges including criminal gang activity, attempted murder, weapons and more, Fox 8 reports.
The judge says that he opened his courtroom after hours for a music producer friend. He went on to admit that he was unaware that the video involved Lil Cray until the day of the shoot and although he knew the rapper had pending charges, he says he’d been out of jail and was on house arrest.
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“Last time I checked the Constitution, everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” Judge Ryan said, adding: “I’m always about helping young people especially when I see that they have promise. They have talent.”
While he defends his decision, Judge Ryan says that he wouldn’t allow such an event to take place again.
“Probably not one of the better choices that I made,” he said, “but I was trying to help.”
The news outlet requested surveillance footage from the courtroom to see what happened during the shoot, but the county denied the request for security purposes.
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Later in the case, Lil Cray violated his house arrest and his bond was revoked.
Watch the report on Lil Cray’s courtroom music video shoot below.
