Eek-a-Mouse faces deportation to US for rape, drugs

A Jamaican reggae artiste is to be deported to the United States (US) from Paraguay to face four-year-old rape and narcotics charges in North Carolina.

CANA News reports that 'Eek-a-Mouse', whose given name is Ripton Hylton, is alleged to have left the US in 2008 after his arrest.

Eek-a-Mouse, who was popular for singles such as “A Wha Do Dem” in the 1980s, maintains that he is innocent. In 2010, he missed a court date in Dare County, North Carolina due to flight cancellations in Europe related to volcanic ash. His lawyer has said the absence was not intentional, however a warrant was issued with a US$1 million bond for failure to appear.

On Thursday police said the reggae artiste was in custody awaiting extradition to North Carolina from Florida. According to investigators, Eek-a-mouse was found in Paraguay on November 21 without a proper visa.