Declyn “Dex” Lauper was charged with criminal possession of a weapon in February 2024
Declyn Lauper, also known as Dex, has reached a legal resolution in a 2024 gun-related case that means he will not serve time in prison. The development follows a guilty plea connected to the charge, bringing the case to a close through the court process.
On March 13, the 28-year-old musician — son of singer Cyndi Lauper and actor David Thornton — pled guilty to the charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and was sentenced to one year of interim probation as part of a plea deal, the New York Post reported.
Declyn’s guilty plea comes more than two years after the original incident, a shooting in Upper Manhattan in which another individual was hit in the leg, per the outlet. Prosecutors have indicated that others were present at the scene, and Declyn was not accused of firing the shot.
In addition to the year of probation, Declyn will reportedly undergo substance abuse treatment, and he must remain arrest-free for one year. Upon his completion of the program, he will then be able to plea to criminal possession of a firearm, a Class E non-violent felony— a lesser charge than the original criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C violent felony —and receive a three-year conditional discharge.
If he had pled not guilty and been convicted, Declyn could have faced up to seven years in jail, per the NYP.
PEOPLE previously reported that Declyn was arrested soon after the Feb. 7, 2024 shooting of a 24-year-old man in Harlem on W. 112th St. near Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. At the time, the New York Daily News reported Declyn allegedly had a fanny pack in his possession that contained a Glock, loaded with seven bullets in the magazine, citing the criminal complaint filed in Manhattan Criminal Court.
The complaint alleged Declyn had the gun “with intent to use it unlawfully against another,” resulting in two charges of criminal possession of a firearm, per the outlet.
The victim was identified as Omar Lewin, according to a police statement obtained by PEOPLE at the time. Lewin was transported to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital, and the New York Daily News reported he was in stable condition. Lewin was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
The current status of that charge is unclear.
Declyn’s bail was set to $20,000, which his father, Thornton, 72, appeared to have paid; the Law & Order actor was seen at a cashier’s window at the Manhattan Criminal Court with an envelope of money just before Declyn’s release on Feb. 9, 2024.
“Declyn Lauper has taken responsibility for his past actions, and that accountability matters. But this moment is also part of a much bigger story — one of growth, maturity, and a real commitment to building something positive,” Peter Risko, a co-founder of 13 Degrees Media Group, which Declyn also founded.
He continued, “Everyone’s path includes challenges. What defines a person is how they respond, how they grow, and what they choose to build next. Declyn is now putting his energy into creating opportunities for others, and we believe that deserves recognition as part of his story.”
PEOPLE has reached out to reps for Cyndi for comment.
