Rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard [ tickets ] was taken into custody after pleading innocent in a Los Angeles arraignment hearing on Wednesday (3/10) to charges of wearing body armor after a felony conviction. The rapper, who has chosen a public defender to represent him in the matter, will be held until bail of $115,000 is posted or until his next court date, presently set for March 23rd, according to a Sonicnet report.

The rapper was arrested on February 16th in the Hollywood area for a parking violation and was not in possession of a driver's license. Police who patted down the rapper, whose real name is Russell Jones, noticed that he was wearing a bullet-proof vest.

While doing a routine check on Jones for a traffic citation, police learned that he was convicted of a felony, making the use of a bullet-proof vest illegal. Jones was convicted in 1993 of second-degree assult for attacking a man in a bar. Police in Hollywood arrested Jones, who later posted bail.

Jones' public defender argued that the rapper fears for his life in the wake of past violent attacks. During the proceedings, Jones was scolded by the jude for being restless and apologized.

If convicted, Jones could face up to three years in jail. Jones is currently standing trial in two other Los Angeles-area cases, both involving felony death threats. Prosecutors argued successfully that those cases could demonstrate that Jones may be dangerous, prompting the judge to grant the high bail request, commenting, ''I think there may be some public safety concerns.''