Alameda County DA drops rape charge on MC Hammer’s cousin by woman he met through Twitter

Prosecutors drop rape charge on MC Hammer’s cousin

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Alameda County prosecutors have dismissed rape charges against a cousin of MC Hammer who appeared on the rapper’s cable TV reality show.

Police arrested Marvin Grant in July 2009 after a 40-year-old woman he met through the online social networking site Twitter alleged he sexually assaulted her at a Livermore hotel.

Deputy District Attorney Philip Daley says the charge was dropped June 15 because of insufficient evidence but declined to elaborate.

Grant, also known as “Bigg Marv,” appeared on MC Hammer’s 2009 reality show, Hammertime, which followed the rapper and his family at their Tracy home on the A&E cable network.

Grant says he met the woman who lives in Southern California through Twitter and the two exchanged e-mails and phone calls before meeting in person.

Information from: Contra Costa Times