Ex-girlfriend gets restraining order against R&B singer Jennings

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Friday, October 24, 2008

Smyrna R&B singer Lyfe Jennings, arrested earlier this week on gun charges, trashed most of his estranged girlfriend’s clothes and shoes, turned her electricity off and threatened to kill her, the woman has alleged in court documents.

Joy Bounds also claimed that the singer threatened to kill her male friend and to report a car she was driving was stolen, the woman wrote in a petition for a temporary restraining order.

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/Cobb police

Lyfe Jennings

Bounds is the 32-year-old mother of two of Jennings’ children. A Fulton County Superior Court judge granted her request Wednesday after reviewing the allegations.

Jennings, whose real name is Chester Jennings, also is accused of threatening Bounds with calls and text messages, and of having changed the locks on the woman while she was out of town.

Bounds and Jennings could not be reached by telephone Friday.

Under terms of the court order, Jennings is prohibited from having any contact with or coming within 200 yards of Bounds or the children, who are ages 3 years and 22 months.

Jennings, 35, also was ordered to pay $5,000 a month in child support and to give Bounds several pieces of furniture, drapes, a TV and other electronic devices, according to the court documents.

Both parties are scheduled to appear Nov. 6 before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Karen Woodson to determine if the restrictions should remain.

Bound wrote in the petition for the restraining order that “90 percent of my clothes, shoes, panties, socks, jackets, etc.” were cut up, bleached and thrown in the woods and a lake on Sunday.

The woman alleged two other incidents, in July: that Jennings put all her belongings in boxes in the garage and changed the locks, and that he attempted to report the car she was driving was stolen.

“He has told me that if he can’t have me, nobody can,” Bounds alleged.

Jennings was arrested Sunday night after kicking in the door of a home on Springwoods Drive in Smyrna while looking for Bounds, according to an arrest warrant.

He fired a gun in the street, tried to run from Smyrna police, crashed his red Corvette and sustained minor injuries, authorities said. Jennings allegedly refused to take a field sobriety test. The warrant said he “had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” on his breath.

Jennings was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, unlawful discharge of a firearm, trespassing, eluding police and driving under the influence. He posted a $50,000 bond Monday night and was released.

This wasn’t Jennings’ first brush with the law. He served 10 years in an Ohio prison after a conviction on arson and drug-related charges, according to the Ohio Department of Corrections Web site.

After his release in December 2002, Jennings launched a successful music career. His first album, in August 2004, was titled “Lyfe 268-192,” with the numbers representing his prison number. Jennings’ biggest hit was “Must Be Nice” which was on the first album.


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