Lil Wayne Gunning for Trial

Tue., Feb. 24, 2009 12:00 PM PST by Josh Grossberg

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Lil Wayne is focusing on clearing his name.

A New York judge has ruled that the Grammy-winning, chart-busting New Orleans MC will stand trial April 20 on gun charges after finding sufficient evidence to suggest the star was illegally packing heat when police raided his tour bus following a July 2007 concert.

Jury selection will kick off shortly after Wayne, born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., finishes up his latest tour April 12. He faces one count of criminal weapons possession and one count of criminal possession of a loaded weapon.

The rapper, who remains free on $70,000 bail, turned up at today's court hearing dressed in a black leather jacket and jeans and waved to fans as he left.

Aside from setting a trial date, New York State Supreme Court Judge Charles Solomon also allowed the gun in question to be used as evidence in the case, according to Lil Wayne's attorney, Stacey Richmond.

The "Lollipop" rapper is accused of stashing a loaded .40-caliber pistol aboard his tour bus. The vehicle was parked outside New York's Beacon Theatre, when an officer, believing to smell marijuana, searched the bus and uncovered the gun.

Richmond had argued that the cop made up the story about smelling pot as cover for an illegal search.

If convicted, Lil Wayne could face a lot of time—a maximum 15-year prison sentence.

With a trial now pending, the 26-year-old entertainer has decided to push back the release of his next record, the rock-infused Rebirth, from April 7 to May 19. Earlier this month, Lil Wayne took home four Grammys, including Best Rap Album for 2008's megaselling Tha Carter III.