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Rick Ross will no longer face a felony charge in his Miami domestic violence case after prosecutors dropped the battery by strangulation count, citing insufficient evidence.
Court documents filed by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office on Thursday, October 29, show that prosecutors have moved forward with misdemeanor charges instead. The rapper, whose legal name is William Roberts II, still faces a misdemeanor battery charge and a separate battery/domestic violence charge.
The decision marks a change from the original charges Ross faced following his arrest in October. He had initially been charged with felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery, and pleaded not guilty.
The case stems from allegations made by his former girlfriend, Jazzma Kendrick, over an incident at his Star Island home in Miami on August 28.
According to the police report, Kendrick told investigators that Ross became angry over a social media post and accused her of cheating. She alleged that he slapped her, struck her several times and choked her using the collar of her shirt before slamming her against a wall.
Miami Beach police said investigators gathered a statement from the woman, photographs of her injuries and surveillance footage of the alleged incident. The department said the evidence established probable cause for Ross's arrest.
Ross turned himself in to police on October 1 and was released after posting bond. He has denied the allegations, describing them as fabricated, while his legal team has maintained that he is innocent.
The felony charge was dropped because prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to pursue it. However, the decision does not end the case, as the remaining misdemeanor allegations will still proceed through the courts.
