American rapper Rick Ross will no longer face a felony battery charge in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident at his Miami Beach residence, although prosecutors are proceeding with a lesser criminal charge.
The 50-year-old musician, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, had faced allegations of battery by strangulation following an August 28 confrontation with a woman who said she was his live-in girlfriend.
According to Rolling Stone magazine, prosecutors have dropped the felony battery by strangulation charge and a separate misdemeanour battery allegation, leaving one count of misdemeanour battery involving domestic violence.
Ross has pleaded not guilty and maintains that the accusations against him are false.
The development represents a significant narrowing of the criminal case against the Grammy-nominated performer, who surrendered to Miami Beach police on October 1 after allegations concerning the incident became public.
The original complaint alleged that an argument at Ross’s Star Island home escalated into physical violence.
The woman told investigators that the rapper slapped her, restricted her breathing by pulling and twisting the collar of her hoodie, and pushed her against a wall.
Miami Beach police said investigators obtained photographs of injuries, surveillance footage and a statement from the complainant before establishing probable cause for the arrest.
Police spokesperson Christopher Bess previously described the allegations as involving a serious physical confrontation, although the claims have not been established in court.
Ross’s lawyer, Bradley Horenstein, has consistently challenged the allegations and questioned the strength of the evidence.
“Mr. Ross is innocent,” Horenstein said in remarks previously reported by Rolling Stone. “There are serious doubts about this case.”
The attorney also described the accusations as fabricated and urged the public to withhold judgment until the legal process had concluded.
The complainant was not identified in the initial official documents, but a woman named Jazzma Kendrick subsequently published social media posts alleging that Ross had assaulted her during their relationship.
Kendrick shared photographs she said showed injuries sustained during the confrontation and indicated that she had ended the relationship.
Her allegations remain disputed by the rapper.
Following his surrender, Ross appeared before a Miami court, where a judge set bond at US$5,000 and imposed conditions requiring him to avoid contact with the complainant and surrender any firearms.
He later publicly denied wrongdoing.
The decision to abandon the felony prosecution substantially reduces Ross’s potential criminal exposure, although the remaining misdemeanour charge means the case has not been dismissed entirely.
The distinction is important because prosecutors’ decision not to pursue particular charges does not, by itself, establish that the underlying allegations were false.
It also does not amount to a finding of guilt on the charge that remains.
Ross, one of the most commercially successful figures in American hip-hop, rose to prominence with his 2006 single Hustlin’ and has since built a career spanning music, business investments and entertainment ventures.
The latest legal developments come as the rapper continues to maintain his innocence while preparing to contest the remaining allegation.
The case is expected to proceed through the Miami-Dade court system, where prosecutors will be required to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt if it goes to trial.
