LOS ANGELES – Rapper Young Buck yesterday bucked an attempted-slay rap with the help of California prosecutors, who downgraded the charges against him stemming from an awards-show melee.
But in a bizarre twist, the move paved the way for his victim to potentially wind up with a much heavier sentence for his role in the bust-up – a life sentence.
Buck, a k a David Darnell Brown, 23, was arrested after allegedly stabbing parolee Jimmy James Johnson, 26, at the televised Vibe fete in Santa Monica last month.
Buck reportedly attacked Johnson moments after Johnson began punching rap legend Dr. Dre for some unknown reason as he asked him for his autograph.
Johnson was charged with felony assault in the case.
But because he has two prior felony convictions – both for robbery – he now faces a possible life sentence under the state’s “three-strikes” law.
While Buck could have faced up to 25 years to life on the attempted-murder charge, he now could wind up with as many as eight years on the downgraded rap: assault with a deadly weapon.
The Nashville-based rapper has been on the road promoting his new album, “Straight Outta Ca$hville.”
Meanwhile, Johnson, who suffered a collapsed lung in the stabbing, remains in jail on a probation violation.