NEW YORK – New York (AP) – Sean “Diddy” Combs returns to court Thursday for a hearing that could help decide how long the Grammy-winning producer will stay in prison.
Judge Arun Subramanian plans to hear arguments from lawyers on points of law that could help him decide the sentence for the Bad Boy Records founder, who was convicted of prostitution-related charges in July.
Combs, 55, will be imprisoned for nearly 13 months when he is sentenced Oct. 3 in the District of Columbia.
His lawyers argued in court papers this week that he should be sentenced to no more than 14 months in prison. With credit for good behavior, that would mean he would be released immediately.
Prosecutors have suggested that they believe he should spend at least several more years behind bars, although they have not yet submitted sentencing recommendations to the judge.
The judge has said he too is leaning toward a significant amount of jail time, twice refusing to grant bail as the jury returned its verdict, citing Combs’ history of violence.
Combs was acquitted of conspiracy and sex trafficking charges that could have resulted in life in prison, but convicted of arranging interstate travel for people engaged in prostitution. Prosecutors said he arranged paid sexual encounters between male sex workers and his girlfriends, some of whom testified that he was beaten, punched and choked with combs.
