Silento Says He's 'Not A Bail Risk' As He Demands $25K Bond In Felony Murder Case
DeKalb County, GA – Rapper Silento, known for his 2015 single “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” was arrested on felony murder charges in February for the murder of his 34-year-old cousin Frederick Rooks.
According to TMZ, Silento filed legal docs in DeKalb County, Georgia this week, requesting the court set his bond at $25,000. In the court documents, Silento reportedly said he’s “not an extraordinary bail risk and will not jeopardize the safety of the community if released on bail.”
He also assured the court he won’t flee or go into hiding if a judge grants his request and will obey all court orders. Silento added denying him bond isn’t only unjust — it’s “unconstitutional.”
Following Silento’s arrest, publicist Chanel Hudson issued a statement asking for his fans’ support.
“Please send my client Silento some positive vibrations,” she wrote. “Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental illnesses. We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask in the meantime the public uplift him and his family in immediate prayer & positive energy!! Ricky is a beautiful soul, and we hope that the same people who came up whippin’ and nay naying with him, continue to support him and lifted in prayer. God bless.”
View this post on Instagram
The arrest follows a string of legal troubles for Silento. Last August, he was arrested twice in two days for assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence. As reported by Fox 11 Los Angeles at the time, Silento (real name Richard Lamar Hawk) was taken into custody on August 28, 2020 for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant.
The following day, Los Angeles Police Department’s Officer Mike Lopez confirmed he was picked up again near Burbank Boulevard in Los Angeles after he was found wielding a hatchet and threatening people.
Silento was arrested again in October 2020 for reckless driving after DeKalb County officers clocked him going 143 miles per hour in a 2020 BMW X3.