Accused Ashanti stalker pleads not guilty in NYC

[August 14, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- New York court papers say a fan charged with deluging Ashanti with lewd tweets told police he knew he'd been ordered not to contact her, but sent her racy messages anyway.

Devar (deh-VAHR') Hurd pleaded not guilty Tuesday to stalking and other charges. The 35-year-old is accused of sending explicit tweets last year to the Grammy Award-winning R&B artist and actress.

Ashanti's publicist didn't immediately respond to messages Tuesday.

Hurd was sentenced to two years in jail in 2010 after being convicted of sending crude text messages about Ashanti to her mother. Her mother testified against him.

Court papers say when Hurd was rearrested last month, he claimed her family "doesn't care" about the no-contact orders against him. The court filings say he acknowledged sending her the tawdry tweets.

[Associated Press]

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