A Polk County jury of women found Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates guilty of battery for kicking a teenager during a concert in 2015 at the Rumors Nightclub in Lakeland.

  • Baton Rouge Kevin Gates was found guilty Wednesday
  • Verdict came after video surfaced of him kicking a female fan
  • Lakeland judge gave Gates 180 days in jail  

The judge gave Gates 180 days in jail as punishment.

Video of the incident spread across social media right after the assault happened.

Miranda Dixon, 19, of Lakeland, told jurors she grabbed Gates shorts, trying to get the rapper's attention when it happened.

“I was in shock,” testified Dixon. “Then I tried to pick up my cup to drink it because I needed some water, or whatever, and then when I like tasted it I just dropped and I tried to walk away and then I fell out when I got to the front.”

When Gates took the stand, he told jurors it was dark and he perceived a lack of adequate security in the small venue.

“I kicked as more of a warning,” said Gates, whose legal name is Kevin Gilyard. “Like, ‘don’t grab me, don’t touch me.’"

He said he kicked after being grabbed twice.

"As a celebrity, is it ok for people to grab you?" asked Gates's attorney, Jose Baez, while Gates was on the stand.

"No."

When you kicked, did you know you were kicking at a man or woman?" asked Baez.

"Not at all," said Gates.

Baez also represented Casey Anthony.

During Dixon's testimony, Baez showed the video over and over while questioning her, trying to prove she wasn't kicked and that she wasn't harmed. He also brought up the fact that she contacted a civil attorney soon after the incident happened.

"She clearly has motive to lie," said Baez while stating reasons to distrust Dixon's testimony.

He had a list.

"Three, she battered him. Four, she was trespassing on stage where she shouldn’t have been. And five, her credibility is to be questioned," Baez said.

Baez also pointed out Dixon didn't go to police or seek medical care right away. He explained to jurors that Gates kicked in self-defense.

During closing statements, Prosecutors suggested that Gates should find another profession if he doesn't like fans touching him. 

As the guilty verdict was read, Gates kept a straight face. He told his defense attorney, "I'm good" as bailiffs led him out.  

Dixon testified during the trial that her case with the civil attorney is currently on hold.