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The 10-year prison sentence, followed by five years of probation, against the Cuban reggaeton artist Josvany Sierra Hernández, known as Chocolate MC, has unleashed a wave of reactions among readers and followers of CiberCuba on social media.
The artist was sentenced this Monday after accepting a plea agreement that ended several criminal proceedings against him in Florida courts. The sentence covers three cases: the instigation of the murder of Damian Valdez Galloso —the alleged murderer of urban musician “El Taiger”—, the kidnapping of a fan, and a robbery that occurred in a hotel room.
The judicial decision came in the context of an agreement reached with the prosecution, which allowed for the joint resolution of the three pending cases. As part of the ruling, the court ordered that Sierra Hernández undergo a mental health and substance abuse evaluation, in addition to issuing a restraining order concerning the victims involved.
After the ruling was announced, comments on Facebook and Instagram came pouring in. Many users agreed that the singer himself is responsible for his situation.
“Well, my son, you brought this upon yourself”; “He left on his own. The pitcher went to the well so many times that it finally broke”; “After laughter comes tears. He made his own bed, now let him lie in it”; “He thought he was infallible, and there are the consequences,” wrote some readers.
Others compared the U.S. judicial system to the Cuban one: “Well, this isn’t Cuba, where you can resolve even the judgments with a few pesos. Here, there are laws and they must be respected.”
There were those who, even acknowledging their mistakes, appealed for a possible rehabilitation: “It's true that he brought this upon himself, he never listened to anyone, but I hope he behaves well and gets out in fewer years”; “I believe that even so, God was kind to him. Let's hope he learns his lesson”; “In prison, he will set things right.”
Some followers even made calculations about a possible sentence reduction for good behavior: “You could be out in 8.5 for good behavior, Choco. He is young, this process could be constructive and result in experience and maturity.”
There were also messages that blended criticism and hope: “He had thousands of opportunities to live decently with his music, but for him it was all about spectacle, violence, and drugs”; “Ten years go by quickly, but he needs to reflect on the past and watch his words. If he wants, his career can continue.”
The conviction marks a new chapter in the controversial legal history of the reguetonero, whose artistic career has been accompanied by constant legal disputes and public controversies.
After completing his prison sentence, Chocolate MC will be required to remain under probation for five years, during which he will be subject to judicial supervision and the fulfillment of specific conditions.
Meanwhile, on social media, the verdict continues to spark debate among those who believe that "he brought it on himself" and those who trust that the artist will be able to rebuild his life once he regains his freedom.
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