50 Cent charged with assaulting ex-girlfriend

LOS ANGELES, July 3 (UPI) -- Rapper 50 Cent Wednesday was charged with assaulting and injuring an ex-girlfriend who is the mother of his child, Los Angeles prosecutors said.

50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, allegedly began destroying some of the woman's property during a fight June 23, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Prosecutors said the woman locked herself in her bedroom, at which point Jackson kicked open the door and kicked her. He was charged with one count of domestic violence and four counts of vandalism and could face up to five years in jail and a fine of $46,000 for injuring the woman and $7,100 for property destruction, the newspaper said.

"Regardless of perceived celebrity or notoriety, domestic violence is a serious crime and alleged perpetrators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law by this office," City Attorney Mike Feuer said. "We will continue to look out for the safety of all victims of domestic violence and seek justice for the alleged crimes."

Jackson, who turns 38 Saturday, and the woman, who wasn't named in the report, had a three-year relationship that produced one child, prosecutors said.