Rapper Lil Wayne is no-show in Yuma court

  Rapper Lil Wayne, charged with felony drug and weapons charges in Yuma County, failed to make his most recent Superior Court hearing here Tuesday due to a dental issue, his attorney said.

  Attorney James Tilson, representing the rapper whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., said the performer is recovering from oral surgery from several root canal operations and was told by his dentist not to fly, which is what caused him to miss the appearance.

  "As a result, the court waived his appearance for that hearing," Tilson said. "He still must appear at future hearings."

  Carter, the million-album-selling rapper, has been charged with one count each of possession of a narcotic drug for sale, possession of dangerous drugs, misconduct involving weapons, possession of drug paraphernalia, transportation and or sale of a narcotic drug, and transportation or sale of a dangerous drug.

  Carter has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

  Tilson said Tuesday's hearing was a status hearing and that he is in the process of getting transcripts from the grand jury that indicted Carter.

  Once he gets the transcripts, Tilson said, he will be filing a motion to have the case sent back to the grand jury.

  "The grand jury came up with some charges the county attorney's office did not ask for," Tilson said.

  Superior Court Judge Mark Wayne Reeves is presiding over Carter's case and scheduled his next court date for Oct. 9.

  The popular rapper's tour bus was stopped Jan. 22 at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Dateland, 78 miles east of Yuma.

  A search of the bus by Drug Enforcement Administration agents allegedly yielded nearly four ounces of marijuana, just over an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of Ecstasy and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia. DEA agents then arrested Carter.

  Officials also found a .40-caliber pistol registered to Carter, who has a concealed weapons permit in Florida.