Rapper's Felony Battery Charge Dropped
Miami prosecutors dismissed the serious count against William Leonard Roberts II, leaving only a misdemeanor domestic violence battery charge pending in local court.
By Riya Zhao ·
One felony count has been removed from the case against rapper Rick Ross, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II. Prosecutors in Miami dropped the charge of battery by strangulation on Friday, citing insufficient evidence.
The decision came after Ross' attorney, Bradley Horenstein, appeared in Miami court. Horenstein told CBS News Miami that his client was happy the State Attorney's Office chose not to file the felony count. He noted that the allegations of strangling someone are very serious, making the dismissal a positive development for the defense.
Ross surrendered to detectives at the Miami Beach headquarters on Oct. 1. He was taken into custody and initially charged with one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery. The charges stemmed from an alleged domestic violence incident at his residence on Star Island. Police reported the incident occurred on Aug. 28, though it was not reported to authorities until Sept. 29.
According to the arrest affidavit, a woman told investigators that Ross became upset over a photograph she was tagged in on Instagram. The woman accused Ross of slapping her, striking her several times, and restricting her breathing by grabbing the collar of her hoodie. She provided photographs of her injuries and a sworn statement to police. Investigators also reviewed surveillance video from the property.
Ross has denied the allegations, calling them fabricated. Horenstein questioned the evidence supporting the original felony charge by pointing to the photographs of the woman's alleged injuries. He stated that the photos showed her neck with no evidence of strangulation or asphyxia. Court documents filed Thursday confirmed that prosecutors declined to file the felony charge due to insufficient evidence.
Prosecutors also declined to file the original misdemeanor battery charge listed in the arrest case. Instead, they filed one count of misdemeanor domestic violence battery. This remaining charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, and the case will proceed in Miami-Dade County Court. Horenstein asked the public to wait for the case to play out in court so the truth can emerge.
CBS News Miami is working to confirm when Ross is expected to return to court.
