Rap case conspiracy charges dropped
Judge rules evidence didn't show defendants benefited from crimes of gang violence
By Kristina Davis 5:55 P.M.JAN. 13, 2015
SAN DIEGO - A controversial part of a gang conspiracy case that criminalizes rap lyrics and Facebook postings appears to be unraveling.
In one of the first tests of a state gang conspiracy law, a judge dropped charges this week against a group of men whose accusations of assisting in and promoting gang violence were based merely on their music and social media activities.
The ruling Monday by San Diego Superior Court Judge David Gill is likely to reverberate among other defendants in this case and another as they petition to have similar conspiracy charges dismissed.