Rapper Flavor Flav pleads not guilty to charges resulting from traffic stop

Rapper Flavor Flav pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a Mineola courtroom to charges stemming from a traffic stop on the way to his mother's funeral last January.

The Roosevelt-born artist, whose real name is William Drayton Jr., was conditionally released to probation on four charges: first-, second- and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and speeding.

The charges, including one felony -- first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle -- were contained in an indictment unsealed Wednesday.

The Las Vegas resident is due back in court Feb. 3 before Nassau County Court Judge Alan Honorof.

"I was hoping for the best. . . God is good. Right now the best happened: I am not locked up. I'm going back home to my family, and I'll be back on Feb. 3," Drayton said after court before a crush of reporters, photographers and onlookers.

Drayton, 55, was arrested Jan. 9, 2014, after State Police said they clocked him going 79 mph in a 55 mph stretch of the Meadowbrook State Parkway, near the Southern State in Hempstead. A license check revealed he had, at the time, 15 active suspensions, prosecutors said.

If convicted of the top charge, Drayton faces a maximum sentence of 11/3 to 4 years in prison, according to prosecutors.

Before police stopped him last January, Drayton had announced on Twitter that his mother, Anna Drayton, had died on Dec. 31, 2013.

He initially pleaded not guilty last January to offenses including a felony charge of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and violations of speeding and marijuana possession.

Drayton was a member of the Roosevelt rap group Public Enemy. The group, which also includes Chuck D, Terminator X and Professor Griff, debuted in 1987.

Public Enemy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in June 2013.

Drayton's attorney Indji Bessim declined to comment after court Wednesday.