My good friend Crack Man X was recently ordered to spend the night in Rikers Island after arriving three hours late for a Thursday (November 17) sentencing hearing. As Earl "Gator" Simmons sauntered up the courthouse steps in his cap, a tan leather jacket and jeans, a reality television show camera crew filmed his arrival. With his wife on his arm, he munched on a small bag of potato chips, oblivious to a crowd of reporters, photographers and other camera crews.

Criminal Court Judge Steven Paynter ordered DMX to spend the night on Rikers and threatened to extend his pending jail term from 60 days to one year for showing up late to court. X was facing a 60-day jail term and a $1,000 fine after pleading guilty last month to being "Gone of that juice."

Actually, he violated the conditions of his probation following a June 2004 incident at Kennedy International Airport. Long story short, this clown, after claiming he was a federal agent, smashed his SUV into a parking lot gate, apparently to avoid paying the $9 parking charge. Since then, authorities said, he has been cited twice for traffic violations, leading to his current plight.

Today when he arrived in court from Rikers, Judge Chin-Brandt imposed the new sentence -- a total of 70 days in jail. Simmons, who came to court with his hands cuffed behind his back after spending the night in jail, was immediately taken to Rikers Island. With good behavior, the jail term could be reduced to 46 days, leaving the 34-year-old behind bars for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Simmons told the judge that he was late yesterday due to an asthma attack, and produced a doctor's note verifying his illness. He made an appeal for the original lesser sentence. "I'm still a person with kids at home and a wife," he said. "...I am sorry. I was sick. I apologize." Oh for real?

You can read about the whole thing here, I just wrote about it. In the meantime, DMX doesn't seem to be tripping. Five words: Crack makes you feel good.

Click here to Watch EbenGregory - DMX In Jail ... Again