Win $5,000 For Snitching On DMX

12/09/08 4:00pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

If you know where DMX is, you could find yourself $5,000 U.S. (about $6,300 Canadian) richer by snitching.

Judge Michael Kemp issued a warrant for the rapper's arrest on Friday after DMX (real name Earl Simmons) failed to show up for a scheduled court date. He was to appear in court on drug and animal cruelty charges. Kemp also raised DMX's bond from $25,000 to $120,000.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information that will lead to DMX's arrest. Arpaio called the hip-hop artist "a major annoyance to the criminal justice system," according to the AZ Central website.

DMX's court-appointed attorney, Charles Kozelka, told MTV News that DMX has been "in and out" of rehab facilities recently, and that's why he wasn't there. Kemp wasn't buying it.

DMX missed a court appearance in August and another one in September because he was rushed to hospital in Florida.

DMX was arrested earlier this year and charged with seven counts of animal cruelty after police found the bodies of several pitbulls buried in his backyard. He was due to answer those charges, along with 11 counts of drug and drug paraphernalia possession, and providing false information at a hospital, which stemmed from an incident when he tried to use someone else's identification.

DMX was also arrested twice in a week this summer after he allegedly tried to buy cocaine and marijuana and drove with a suspended license.

He was also forced to sell his $1 million townhouse earlier this year to help pay off a breach off contract lawsuit.