Man accused of holding pregnant woman hostage seen in court, human trafficking division to take case

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Houston rapper, 52-year-old, Lee Carter showed up in court after being accused of holding a pregnant woman captive for years.

READ RELATED: HPD arrest local rapper accused of holding pregnant woman hostage for several years in SE Houston

It's a story making national headlines for its shocking allegations, and now the attorney for Lee Carter is denying the allegations.

ABC13 captured video of Carter leaving the courtroom Monday morning. He did not appear before the judge, and his attorney was absent.

According to officials, the human trafficking division is expected to take over the case.

The court, however, says they are working to figure out if they want his bond raised higher or not.

Carter could be taken into custody Monday, or a bond hearing could be set for later this week.

The woman told police that Carter picked her up while she was panhandling in south Houston, then locked her up, raped her, and forced her to take drugs, including pills and crack cocaine, for four to five years.

Carter's attorney describes a situation very different from what was presented in court.

"They've been together for years in a mutually consensual relationship that is 100% legal," Carter's attorney, George Powell, said. "In fact, the complainant and my client have a three-year-old son together, from whom I've already been provided the birth certificate."

Carter was arrested on Thursday, and Houston police say they have been trying since then to get back in touch with the woman.

They say she was just 70 pounds when she was rescued, but Carter's attorney claims the woman has never been missing or in danger.

"They were actually in a relationship, and he did not kidnap anyone," Powell said. "The complaining witness has had some mental history issues for which my client has always supported her."

Court documents don't show if she ever gave birth and if she did, what happened to the baby.