December 31, 2008

Accused of animal abuse and narcotics possession, among other charges, rapper DMX pleaded guilty to four charges yesterday, as part of a settlement that enables him to skirt other charges. (Pet Pulse Illustration by Tim Mattson)

NEW YORK -- Rapper DMX pleaded guilty yesterday morning to one count of animal cruelty in the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, seven months after authorities raided his home and charged him with neglect of his 12 dogs.

The hip-hop mogul also pleaded guilty to three additional counts of possession of narcotic drugs, theft and possession of marijuana.

DMX, whose legal name is Earl Simmons, chose to follow through on a settlement, which will allow some of the outstanding charges against him to be dropped.

The ruling marks conclusion of a case that has followed the rapper throughout the year, during which he was arrested several times, only to dodge numerous court appearances.

Simmons' animal cruelty charges stemmed from a raid on his home last spring, as Pet Pulse previously reported.

Phoenix authorities seized 12 Pit Bulls and Pit Bull-mixes during the May search of the rapper's Cave Creek, Ariz., house. There, they uncovered the remains of three other dogs partially buried -- and possibly burned.

While authorities did not identify any evidence of dog fighting on the premise, some of the dogs were without water and food.

Simmons claimed that he had entrusted the dogs to a caretaker, whom he thought was providing accordingly for them.

The raid was initially prompted by reports of animal abuse, but it also led to the seizure of marijuana and various weapons from Simmons' home.

Since the May incident, Simmons had several other charges tacked onto his record.

In April, he was charged with identity theft and theft of services after he used the name "Troy Jones" and an incorrect Social Security number to avoid paying a $7,500 medical bill to a health clinic.

Simmons was also arrested in May for driving 114-miles-per-hour on a suspended license.

Simmons' animal abuse and drug possession court hearing was initially slated for August, by when he had already skipped town to Miami, where he was spotted -- and arrested -- several days later.

He was extradited back to an Arizona jail on Aug. 27, but was later freed with a paid $25,000 bond, allowing him to legally travel to Florida, one of Simmons' public defenders reportedly said.

Simmons will next appear in court on Jan. 30, when, according to a plea agreement, the other charges, including identity theft, will be dropped.

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The Associated Press, CNN and ABC15.com contributed to this article.