Former WWE Superstar and Harvard educated lawyer David Otunga is back with some legal knowledge on the Raja Jackson case. Despite facing four years in prison on a "battery causing serious bodily injury" charge, Otunga explains how Jackson could actually serve seven years due to an additional California code.
Since the arrest of Raja Jackson for his in-ring assault on Syko Stu, the prevailing narrative has been that the Kick streamer could be facing up to four years in prison. That's correct if Jackson is found guilty of battery causing serious bodily injury, but a "great bodily injury" enhancement could potentially be tacked on to Jackson's case.
"California Penal Code § 12022.7 PC sets forth a sentencing enhancement that applies in certain felony cases," Shouse California Law Group explains. "The enhancement allows a judge or jury to impose additional prison time if you inflict great bodily injury on a victim in the commission of the underlying felony crime."
"In California criminal prosecutions, the term 'great bodily injury' refers to significant or substantial physical injuries such as broken bones, concussions, gunshot wounds, contusions, and second and third-degree burns."
Syko Stu did suffer a fractured upper jaw bone and a loss of consciousness at the hands of Jackson, which allows the great bodily injury enhancement to be potentially sought.
"Four years could become seven for Raja Jackson. Why? California's GBI enhancement -- great bodily injury," Otunga said in a new YouTube Short. "Right now Raja is charged with felony battery and serious bodily harm. That carries a maximum of up to four years in prison, however California has a GBI enhancement so if the victim suffers major injuries like broken bones, severe trauma or loss of consciousness (Syko Stu) prosecutors can tack on an extra three years automatically."
"So in this case, we know Syko Stu was knocked out cold from the slam, so that takes the sentence from four years max to seven years in state prison. Now that's the kind of add-on that changes everything from plea negotiations to sentencing."