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LOS ANGELES () — Comedian Carlos Mencia on Monday pleaded not guilty to 12 tax-related counts alleging he failed to report $8.7 million in personal and corporate income.
Mencia has arrested and charged last week. His bail has been set to $50,000. He is due back in court on Aug. 14.
Prosecutors allege Mencia failed to file tax returns over a six-year period, resulting in more than $300,000 in unpaid state taxes.
The case is the first brought by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s newly launched Business Tax Fraud Unit.
In February 2007, the comedian-turned-podcaster Joe Rogan accused Mencia of plagiarism onstage at the Comedy Store in L.A. in a confrontation captured on video.
Comedian Carlos Mencia performs during the Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas Upfront on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in New York.
Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas
Rogan mocked him as “Carlos Menstealia,” alleging that Mencia stole material from fellow comedians including George Lopez, Ari Shaffir and Bobby Lee. Mencia then took the stage and confronted Rogan, defending himself against the accusations.
In the aftermath of the incident, however, Mencia’s Comedy Central series “Mind of Mencia” ended in 2008 after a four-year run.
According to his IMDB page, Mencia later appeared in the film “Our Family Wedding” in 2010, the TV series “La Chamba” in 2012, and the 2011 comedy special “Carlos Mencia: New Territory.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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