Lil Wayne Pleads Guilty to Weapon Charges, Faces a Year in Prison

Rapper Lil Wayne performs onstage during his "I Am Music" Tour featuring T-Pain at the Gibson Amphitheater on March 29, 2009 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lil Wayne (Getty Images)more pics »In a New York courtroom today, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession -- meaning he'll likely be sentenced to a year behind bars, according to the Associated Press. Back in 2007, police searched the rapper's tour bus after they smelled pot smoke wafting out, and as soon as an officer approached Wayne tossed out a Louis Vuitton bag holding a gun.

Lil Wayne going to court (via EOnline.com)
PopEater reports that trace amounts of DNA found on the gun -- which was incidentally loaded -- connected it to Wayne. The 27-year-old previously pleaded not guilty to illegal gun possession charges, which would have put him in prison for three-and-a-half years. His trial was set to start January 20.

Right now Wayne is free on $30,000 bail, and he'll appear in NYC's State Supreme Court again on Dec. 15.

Unfortunately there's still more trouble with the law for Lil Wayne. He's also facing felony drug possession and weapons charges in Arizona, to which he's pleaded not guilty. With all that and his fourth baby on the way, it's going to be a rough year.

More pictures of Lil Wayne (click any photo):

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•