A man arrested for allegedly breaking into LL Cool J's California home is facing a lengthy prison sentence after he was charged with first degree burglary.
The rapper, real name James Todd Smith, confronted 56-year-old Jonathan Kirby in the early hours of Wednesday (22Aug12) after finding the intruder at his family property in Studio City.
A physical altercation occurred and the muscular star, who portrays a former Navy Seal on TV crime drama Ncis: Los Angeles, managed to restrain Kirby and detain him until police arrived on the scene.
The suspect was arrested and admitted to hospital to receive treatment for injuries including a broken nose, jaw and ribs sustained in the fight, and he was still under doctors' care on Thursday (23Aug12) when he was officially charged.
Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons reveals Kirby has been charged as a "third striker", meaning he faces a maximum sentence of 38 years to life behind bars if found guilty.
Kirby's criminal record includes convictions for voluntary manslaughter, auto theft, burglary and petty theft.
An arraignment date has yet to be set as a result of Kirby's hospitalisation, but prosecutors are asking for a judge to set his bail at $1.1 million (£687,500).