Ascension Parish, La. (BRPROUD) – Popular New Orleans rapper Michael Lawrence Tyler, also known as Mystikal, has a new attorney representing him.

Mystikal is in an Ascension Parish jail on charges of first-degree rape, robbery, false imprisonment and domestic charges.

A judge granted Mystikal’s request to switch his representation from Joel Pearce and Timothy Yazbeck to Tiffany Myles Crosby. Pearce told the judge that he is happy to no longer represent Mystikal.

“I am, I’m happy,” Pearce said. “It’s a big responsibility to care for somebody’s life and Michael Tyler is an innocent man and he deserves to have the lawyer of his choice.”

Pearce said that he does not know why his former client made this change.

“No idea. But it’s kind of like going to the doctor,” Pearce said. “You have the right to get and should get a second opinion, I’m a big fan of second opinions.”

The judge granted Crosby’s motion to put a gag order on the current and former attorneys in the case. The gag order prohibits them from commenting on the case to the press.

Years prior, Pearce successfully represented Mystikal against a similar rape charge in North Louisiana.

Neither the Ascension Parish District Attorney Ricky Babin nor Mystikal’s new lawyer wanted to provide a comment.

If found guilty, Mystikal faces life behind bars.