Kanye West’s Intense Paparazzi Legal Battle Explained

Details on why rap star Kanye West is currently gearing up for a legal battle following a recent paparazzo attack while troubled basketball star Lamar Odom is walking away charge-free despite pulling the same stunt have surfaced.

According to reports, Odom caught a huge break due to his attack on a cameraman being a first.

Kanye West is getting prosecuted for screwing with a photographer’s equipment at LAX, but Lamar Odom basically did the same thing and he’s not facing criminal charges … and TMZ knows why. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … honchos in the L.A. City Attorney’s Office cut Lamar a break because this is the first time he ever went on the attack against a paparazzo. You’ll recall Lamar went into a photog’s car and chucked his camera equipment into the street, damaging it. Lamar has been ordered to attend an informal hearing but will NOT face criminal charges. (TMZ)

In Mr. West’s situation, he has now become notorious for having issues with paparazzi.

Our sources say the reason they’re going after Kanye is his history of attacking photographers. Specifically, the City Attorney has zeroed in on another incident at LAX back in 2008, when he grabbed a photog’s camera and threw it to the ground. The case was filed, but later dismissed after Kanye paid for the repair. We’re told the City Attorney also factored in the various incidents where Kanye has lashed out at photogs … incidents prosecutors have seen on TMZ. It is unclear if the City Attorney will try to use prior incidents in Kanye’s current criminal case to prove he has an M.O. — i.e., ATTACK. (TMZ)

Kanye’s physical assault on a photographer back in July has come back to bite him this month.

City attorney’s spokesman Frank Mateljan says West was also charged Friday with one count of attempted grand theft. The rapper’s arraignment has been set for Oct. 10 but he is not required to appear if he has an attorney. Photographer Daniel Ramos claims West punched him in an unprovoked attack and wrestled his camera to the ground during an incident at the airport on July 19. Prosecutors declined to file felony charges against West, but city prosecutors decided to pursue misdemeanor charges. Each carries a penalty of up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. (ABC News)

Yeezy recently had a potential felony assault case dropped.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office on Friday declined to file felony assault and attempted robbery charges against the singer and referred the issue to the L.A. city attorney to see if the incident warranted a misdemeanor charge. West, who has long maintained a hostile stance toward paparazzi and even rapped about his contempt for the media, was captured on video July 19 wrestling the photographer to the ground. (Los Angeles Times)

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