Three Things You May Not Know About Iyanna ‘Yaya’ Mayweather’s Stabbing Case
Iyanna "Yaya" Mayweather, the daughter of boxer Floyd Mayweather, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty on April 13 to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 2020 stabbing of Lapattra Jacobs, the mother of rapper NBA YoungBoy's child.
RELATED: Floyd Mayweather's Daughter Iyanna Pleads Guilty To Stabbing The Mother Of NBA YoungBoy's Child
Mayweather, 21, entered her guilty plea in a Houston courtroom, admitting to "unlawfully, intentionally and unknowingly" causing "bodily injury” to Jacobs by cutting her "with a knife."
Below are three things you may not know about the case.
Mayweather claims she stabbed Jacobs in self-defense
The details surrounding the April 2020 stabbing are unclear, but the police arrested Mayweather, then 19, at NBA Youngboy’s home after an altercation. She was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and taken to Houston’s Harris County jail and later released on a $30,000 bond, according to Entertainment Tonight.
An ambulance transported Jacobs to a hospital. She suffered multiple lacerations to her arm. Although the injuries were non-life-threatening, she underwent surgery.
At the time of the incident, TMZ, citing unnamed sources, reported that Yaya was holding two knives in the kitchen during her argument with Jacobs. When Jacobs stepped toward her, Yaya charged forward with one of the knives. Jacobs was on the floor when EMT arrived.
But Yaya’s lawyer, Kent Schaffer, said it was a case of self-defense.
"Unbeknownst to [Mayweather, NBA Youngboy] was hiding Ms. Jacobs in an upstairs bedroom for a few days, and when Ms. Jacobs came downstairs and saw Iyanna, she viciously attacked her, and Iyanna defended herself," NBC News quoted Schaffer’s statement.
Mayweather and Youngboy, whose name is Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, were in a relationship. They now share a son together.
Yaya pleaded guilty because it was ‘the safest resolution’
"Although we believe that Iyanna was defending herself after being attacked, we thought this [guilty plea] was the safest resolution for her. This is especially true since her boyfriend and his bodyguards refused to testify, probably due to their own legal problems" PEOPLE quoted Schaffer.
Yaya's plea removed the possibility of spending up to 20 years behind bars. Instead, she now faces a sentence of six years of probation for the assault, in addition to potential community service, restitution or both.
Her conviction will be vacated after completing probation, which could end early for good behavior.
Under the deal, Yaya waived her right to an appeal and will be sentenced on June 16.
Yaya isn’t out of the woods yet
In addition to the criminal case, Yaya also faces a civil lawsuit. NBC reports that Jacobs sued Mayweather for damages, including physical pain and mental anguish from the attack. She is also seeking an undisclosed amount of money.
Still, Schaffer isn’t too worried. He said Mayweather has no "meaningful assets, so any judgment against her would be uncollectible."
According to Yaya’s attorney, NBA Youngboy is more at fault than his client for the stabbing incident.
"The worst part is that NBA Youngboy and his bodyguards could have intervened and kept the problem from occurring. However, they chose to watch and laugh as Iyanna was beaten by Ms. Jacobs," he stated.
