2 N.Y. bench warrants for rapper DMX

Judges in two cities issued bench warrants Wednesday for the arrest of rapper DMX, who failed to show up in court for either of his pending traffic cases.

"In truth, I do not know where he is," said Murray Richman, lawyer for the 36-year-old rapper (whose real name is Earl Simmons). "Why would he be hiding out from a damn traffic infraction?"

He said the rapper, whose albums include "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" and "Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood," was in Arizona on Tuesday but had promised to appear Wednesday in White Plains and Yonkers, both north of New York City.

"He said he missed a flight," Richman said. "He's always missing flights."

DMX, who has a long record of driving violations, was already a day late for White Plains City Court, but on Tuesday Judge Brian Hansbury had given him until 2 p.m. Wednesday to face charges stemming from a downtown pullover on June 2. Police officers said DMX was speeding, changing lanes dangerously, driving without a seat belt and using a suspended license.

Court Clerk Jennifer Ruggiero said the judge issued the warrant, which means Simmons "can be picked up anytime, and if he's brought here he can be jailed."

Richman said the judge agreed that if Simmons were produced within two weeks, he would "listen to his reasons" before ordering the rapper's $25,000 bond forfeited.

The bond was set when the rapper, who lives in Mount Kisco, missed two earlier court dates and spent a night in jail.

He has declined plea bargain offers from prosecutors.

Simmons was also due in City Court in Yonkers, where he was raised, on a charge of driving last October with a suspended license. Judge Charles Wood issued a bench warrant there.