A Superior Court judge in Yuma, Arizona, issued a bench warrant for Lil Wayne on Tuesday when the rapper failed to appear in court to face drug and weapons charges. Of course, the rapper (born Dwayne Michael Carter) missed the court date because he recently [article id="1633428"]began a one-year prison stretch[/article] in New York on gun charges.

The warrant was issued because Wayne did not appear in court for a final trial management conference, according to The Associated Press, but his attorney James Tilson said his client could not make it because of the [article id="1633564"]sentence he has been serving at New York's Rikers Island jail[/article] since March 8.

The Arizona case stems from a January 2008 stop at a border checkpoint 78 miles east of Yuma, in which authorities claim they found cocaine, Ecstasy and a handgun on Wayne's bus. [article id="1580328"]Wayne was charged[/article] with possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Though Tilson said he has filed motions to have Wayne's March 30 trial date vacated and asked that his client be allowed to appear in Yuma when he finishes his New York jail sentence, Yuma County prosecutor Deann Sandry said Arizona now considers the rapper a convicted felon and believes a bench warrant should be issued and his bond increased to $150,000.

Neither Arizona prosecutors nor Tilson could be reached for comment at press time.