L.A. gang member-turned-author gets 6 years for carjacking (AP)

LOS ANGELES - A South Los Angeles gang member who wrote a critically praised autobiography behind bars has been sentenced to six years in state prison for a 2006 carjacking.

Kody "Monster" Scott, 44, was sentenced Monday after pleading no contest to carjacking. Four other counts against him were dismissed as part of a plea agreement, Los Angeles County district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said Tuesday.

Scott, arrested last year, was accused of taking a silver Jaguar that belonged to a friend whom he beat so badly the man needed facial surgery.

A call to Scott's attorney seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Scott, who also goes by the name Sanyika Sakura, was in prison when he wrote "Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member." He wrote that he killed, robbed and committed other crimes since being inducted into a street gang at age 11. The 1993 book is the basis for a planned movie.

Scott previously served four years in state prison for armed robbery and possession of an AK-47 assault rifle, and had shorter terms for other crimes.

Police contend that he retains gang ties despite a professed conversion to Islam and a renunciation of violence. He was on a list of the 10 most-wanted gang members issued by the Los Angeles Police Department last year.