Rick Ross pleads not guilty to strangulation charge
by The Washington Times AI News Desk · The Washington TimesRapper Rick Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, surrendered to Miami Beach police Thursday on one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor battery count. His attorney entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf at a morning bond hearing.
Mr. Roberts, 50, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at 6:10 a.m., and both charges are listed as involving domestic violence.
According to the arrest report, the alleged victim told police that Mr. Roberts became enraged over an Instagram photo in which she was tagged and struck her whenever she denied wrongdoing. She said the incident occurred Aug. 28, when the two were living together and had been in a relationship for about a year. She alleged that he hit her in the chest and face, choked her by twisting the collar of her hoodie, and grabbed her by the ponytail and slammed her against a wall, splitting her lip.
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Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer presided over the hearing, where Mr. Roberts appeared by video. After his attorney asked that his release be expedited because he is a celebrity, the judge told him, “I have no idea who you are,” and said he would be treated like everyone else in her courtroom. She ordered him to stay away from the alleged victim, including through social media. He bonded out Thursday morning. His arraignment is set for Oct. 22.
Mr. Roberts has denied the allegations. He told reporters outside the jail, “I am totally innocent of these fabricated allegations made against me.” He also posted a video statement to Instagram Stories saying he is confident the allegations will be “laid to rest.”
His attorney Bradley Horenstein said, “the allegations are false,” and asked the public to let the process play out. Mr. Horenstein and co-counsel Steve Sadow said in a statement reported by The Associated Press that Mr. Roberts is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose motives are unclear. They noted that no police report was filed until Sept. 29, a month after the alleged incident.
The arrest followed public accusations by Mr. Roberts’ former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick. On Monday, she posted photos of an injured lip to Instagram and said Mr. Roberts caused it, The FADER reported. Citing court records, The FADER also reported that Ms. Kendrick made the Thursday police report. Other outlets reported that the alleged victim was identified in court only by her initials, and The Washington Times could not independently confirm that Ms. Kendrick is the woman named in the arrest report.
The allegations have not been adjudicated, and Mr. Roberts is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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