Tony Yayo Case Adjourned Until July; Yayo’s Attorney and Victim's Mother Issue Statem

Today [Apr. 25], G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo made his first appearance in court to fight allegations that he backhanded and verbally assaulted a 14-year-old last month.

Yayo's case has been adjourned until July 24, while the parties wait for a decision on defense motions that are expected at the end of May.

The charges Yayo faces include one count of misdemeanor assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a minor.

Yayo and his defense adamantly deny the allegations that he smacked the 14-year-old son of long time rival Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond on Mar. 20 in New York.

"After a detailed investigation, I stand here to steadfastly and unequivocally state that Tony Yayo did not slap anyone,” Tony Yayo’s attorney Scott E. Leemon told AllHipHop.com in a statement. “The allegations made against him are false and I am sure when the People finish their investigation they will have no alternative but to come to the same conclusion--Yayo is being falsely accused.”

Yayo and even G-Unit founder 50 Cent have received harsh criticism from the public and various community leaders regarding this incident and the treatment of minors.

“Everyone in the public needs to know that Yayo, himself, a parent of a young child, would never do what he is being falsely accused of doing,” said Leemon. “This is nothing more than a set up and the truth will eventually come out.”

Meanwhile, Cynthia Reed, the mother of the 14-year-old held a small rally with Stephanie Ramirez, the mother of one of Israel Ramirez' children. Ramirez was gunned down on the set of a Busta Rhymes video.

While Yayo has never been charged, police seek to question him in Ramirez' murder, but Yayo refuses to talk to the police.

"We don't want Marvin Bernard [Tony Yayo] to think we forgot his crime is against a child and there is no room in our community for that," Reed told AllHipHop.com. "What is even more disturbing is that Curtis Jackson [50 Cent] or no one from the record company has said anything against this horrible crime which makes them just as guilty."

50 Cent has issued multiple statements denying his involvement and condemning any violence directed at children.

Ramirez, who attended the Rally on behalf of Israel Ramirez' family said her family "were still looking for justice for Israel Ramirez who died for Hip-Hop, we will always remember him."

Ramirez was gunned down on the set of the video for the "Touch It (Remix)" by Busta Rhymes. Police claim over 25 witnesses saw the shooting, but most have refused to come forward and cooperate with police.

About a dozen protesters held up picket signs that said "Ban 50 Cent and "Ban Tony Yayo."