Ant Jefe, a co-host on the popular “No Jumper” podcast, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Friday for an arraignment on a murder charge.
The rapper and podcaster, born Maurice Shelmon, listened attentively as his assigned public defender withdrew from the case and attorney Loyst P. Fletcher told the judge he would be representing the YouTube star moving forward.
Shelmon, who turned 36 on May 25, appeared alongside co-defendant Johnnie Gray, 30. Each is charged with one count of murder “with malice aforethought,” in connection with the killing of Carl Welch.
Both Shelmon and Gray pleaded not guilty at the June 5 hearing, and each waved their right to a speedy arraignment.
According to the criminal complaint, prosecutors said Welch was killed in Los Angeles County on or about Jan. 31, 2026. The LAPD’s statement of probable cause said 77th area patrol officers and paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call about a victim being assaulted by multiple suspects in a parking lot.
The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene and had “visible trauma to his face, abrasions, and swelling near his eyes,” the LAPD statement read. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office listed the cause of death for Welch, 51, as blunt force trauma. His manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Friday’s hearing only lasted a few minutes before Judge Theresa R. McGonigle agreed to continue the arraignment on June 17.
Outside court, attorney Fletcher told Urban Hollywood 411 he was retained by Shelmon’s family. “He is in good spirits. He’s happy that he has hired private counsel, and that I’m on the case,” the attorney said.
Fletcher added that he had not fully reviewed the evidence, because he was only recently retained.
“I have not, as yet, received the discovery in the case that would include the complaint, any documents or narratives, et cetera, police reports supporting the charges,” he said. “So, I have yet to review that and do a deep dive into that. I have very limited facts at this point.”
Detectives with the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division arrested Shelmon on May 19, 2026, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s inmate locator website.
He was initially held on $1 million bail, which was later increased to $2.05 million. On Friday, Fletcher said the bail amount is excessive.
“Based on what I do know about the case, $2 million bail is the schedule for murder one, which is what Mr. Shelmon is being charged with, but I believe he is being overcharged,” Fletcher said. “So, I believe the bail is substantially too high, and I’ll be addressing that with the court.”
The attorney revealed the case includes video evidence, which he said will be favorable to his client.
“It’s my understanding there is a videotape. I don’t know what it depicts, but I do understand that, based on the opinions of the public defender, that the video substantiates my opinion that he is being overcharged and this is not a murder,” the attorney stated.
When reminded that a life was lost, Fletcher responded: “There is a deceased person, that is correct. But there are degrees of charges based on someone’s demise, and this is not the case.”
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