Aspen Easterling, the 19-year-old known professionally as the rising Chicago drill rapper Aspen Kartier, pleaded guilty on October 21 in DeKalb County, Georgia, to one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals.

The case stemmed from a January 29 livestream in which she repeatedly struck a three-month-old Maltipoo puppy named Louie and lifted the animal by the skin of its back while broadcasting from her apartment in Brookhaven.

DeKalb County Judge Alvin Wong presided, with prosecutor Samantha Wicker representing the state. In court, the three-minute video of the incident was played on a projector. It showed Easterling becoming angry after the puppy urinated on the floor off-camera. Louie’s whimpering and yelping are audible throughout as Easterling addresses viewers about the dog’s behavior. Wicker told the court, “Frankly, I believe the video truly speaks for itself. I mean, she admits to hitting the dog. She says that the dog acts like it can’t breathe when she does hit it.”

Easterling had initially faced two counts of animal cruelty; one was dropped as part of the guilty plea negotiated with her attorney, Pat Dixon. She was sentenced to 10 days in jail (with credit for two days already served), one year of probation, 24 anger-management classes, 100 hours of community service, and participation in an animal-cruelty education and prevention program.

She is also prohibited from owning, possessing, or being in the presence of a dog during probation. Judge Wong described the jail time as “a very, very symbolic punishment. It won’t kill you, but it’s not pleasant,” adding that he had considered 30 days but reduced it after reviewing the circumstances. He rejected a request to treat the case as a first-offender matter, so the conviction will remain on her record.

Easterling’s boyfriend, Cristian Denis (also known as Lil Crix), who owns Louie and was present during the incident, agreed to relinquish custody of the dog to DeKalb’s Lifeline Animal Project. Easterling was ordered to pay roughly $3,300 to cover the puppy’s care and related costs. Examinations after her initial arrest indicated the puppy was in good health. The Brookhaven Police Department later received PETA’s Compassionate Police Department Award for the officers’ swift response in rescuing the animal following public tips and information provided by the organization.

Music Career and Rise

Aspen Kartier built a following as a Chicago drill artist before relocating to the Atlanta area. Tracks such as “I Do” (which has accumulated millions of streams), “Ms. Bounce Out Clap Em,” “Free Clout” featuring Lady Binladen, “Percocet Love,” and “Triple Threat” helped establish her online presence across Spotify, YouTube, and short-form video platforms.

She has collaborated with other Chicago-scene artists and released a steady stream of singles under Signal Records, a joint venture involving former Capitol Records executive Jeff Vaughn and Columbia Records (a Sony Music Entertainment division). She signed with the label in 2025.

In court, Dixon described Easterling’s background as one of “undesirable conditions” in Chicago, noting that she turned to rapping as a way out; a Los Angeles-based manager later facilitated her move to Brookhaven. After the January incident went viral, Signal Records shelved planned projects, shows were canceled, sponsorships ended, and she faced online harassment.

She subsequently moved to Gwinnett County after her previous address circulated online. In court she expressed a desire to continue pursuing music and noted that she remains signed; her name still appears on the label’s site as an artist.

Advocates for DeKalb Animals welcomed the outcome for the puppy and the financial accountability ordered for his care, while calling for further investigation into Denis as the dog’s owner. The case highlights both the rapid public and law-enforcement response enabled by livestream technology and the professional consequences for an emerging artist whose catalog had been gaining traction in the drill scene.