14 DAY TRIAL // Jeremy Meeks, the 30-year-old man who became an Internet star after his mugshot went viral and who now dreams of becoming a successful model from behind bars, showed up in court for his first hearing since arrest wearing the orange jumpsuit all inmates wear – and he didn’t look happy about it at all.
Meeks is being held on felony charges of street terrorism and illegal possession of a firearm and he stands to spend the next 10 years in prison if he’s found guilty, especially considering he already has a pretty colorful track record and known association with the gang Northside Crips, whose distinctive tattoo he bears on his neck.
Before the court hearing, because of the massive amount of interest in Meeks, his attorney, Tai Bogan, tried to get the judge to allow him to appear before him in regular clothes, as opposed to the orange jumpsuit all prisoners wear.
He argued that, if Meeks showed up in court in prison clothes, everyone would assume he was guilty of the crimes he was being accused of, which, according to the law, he wasn’t until the jury reached a verdict saying so. All that about being “innocent until proven guilty” applied to his client as well.
Bogan even tried to argue that dressing as an inmate could potentially harm Meeks’ reputation, chances of a fair trial and, last but not least, his budding modeling career, which could become his bread and butter in the future.
Bogan’s petition was denied, just as his attempt to ban cameras from the courtroom on the same grounds also was. So his client showed up in front of a judge in the prison jumpsuit and, as you can see in this video on Yahoo! Celebrity, he looked none too happy about it.
Of course, seeing how he’s facing a 10-year sentence, he has plenty other reasons to be upset than the fact that he’s seen around the world dressed like “a common criminal.”
Even though he might not be a free man anytime soon, his new Hollywood agent believes he stands good chances of making a killing as a fashion model. He signed with Gina Rodriguez, who also brokers deals for Nadya Suleman aka Octomom, Farrah Abraham, and V. Stiviano.
Rodriguez confirmed to the media that Meeks is in high demand right now, revealing that he could even make $100,000 (€73,417) a month from modeling contracts with big-name fashion houses, if he plays his cards right. He’s yet to sign a deal with any one of them, but it’s bound to happen, Rodriguez is convinced.
So, even if we may never see Meeks up on the catwalk or, at least, not see him up there in the years to come, presuming he’s found guilty, he could still become a very rich and very famous man through modeling. Whether any of the big fashion labels would ever get in bed with such an individual, especially if he’s found guilty, remains to be seen.