Prosecutors Drop Felony Charge Against Rick Ross
Miami-Dade officials reduced the domestic violence case to two misdemeanors, citing insufficient evidence for the original serious accusation.
By Stella Brooks ·
Rick Ross no longer faces a felony battery charge in his domestic violence case. Prosecutors in Miami-Dade County dropped the felony count on Friday, October 30. The rapper, whose birth name is William Roberts II, will now stand trial on two misdemeanor charges. These new counts are for battery and domestic battery.
The original felony charge, which included strangulation, was dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Ross pleaded not guilty to all charges filed against him. He reacted to the news briefly on social media. Earlier in the month, he told reporters, “I’m totally innocent of these fabricated allegations made against me.”
The dispute stems from an incident in August involving Ross’s ex-girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick. Kendrick told police that the couple argued over an Instagram post. She claimed Ross slapped her in the face whenever she denied having a relationship with the person who tagged her. Kendrick also stated that Ross hit her and struck her in the chest several times, causing breathing issues. She alleged she suffered a busted lip after he grabbed her ponytail and slammed her head into the ground.
Ross’s defense attorneys, Bradley Horenstein and Steve Sadow, issued a statement regarding the reduction in charges. They noted that Kendrick did not file a police report until one month after the alleged incident. “William Roberts II, professionally known as Rick Ross, is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear,” the attorneys said. They added that Roberts has pled not guilty and asked the public to let the judicial process run its course.
The case remains active in Miami-Dade County. The two misdemeanor charges proceed to trial. Ross continues to maintain his innocence through his legal team and public statements.
