Rapper Rick Ross will not face a felony charge in his Florida domestic violence case after prosecutors in Miami decided on Friday to drop the more serious count, leaving him facing a single misdemeanour.
The Grammy-nominated star, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II and who is 50, is now charged with one count of misdemeanour domestic violence battery, according to court records cited by the Miami Herald. He maintains his innocence and has described the allegation as fabricated, Miami TV station WSVN reported.
What happened in court
Ross did not attend Friday’s arraignment hearing in Miami-Dade, where his attorney appeared on his behalf. The case came before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Cristina Miranda, the Miami Herald reported, and the paper said he has pleaded not guilty.
It was the second time an arraignment had been listed. WSVN reported that the first hearing was reset because prosecutors had not yet formally filed charges and told the court they needed more time to review the case.
When he was arrested, Ross faced two counts: misdemeanour battery and felony battery by strangulation. On Friday prosecutors filed only the misdemeanour, according to both outlets. Under Florida law, the remaining count carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail on conviction, WSVN reported.
His defence lawyer, Bradley Horenstein, told WSVN he was “thrilled” with the decision, noting that the felony allegation had been a very serious one.
The decision is significant. In the US system a felony is the most serious class of crime and can bring a lengthy prison term, while a misdemeanour is a lesser offence that generally carries a much shorter maximum sentence. By filing only the lesser count, prosecutors have sharply reduced the potential consequences Ross faces if the case goes against him.
How the case began
The charge relates to an alleged incident at Ross’s home in Miami Beach in late August. A woman he had been in a relationship with went to police about a month later, according to the Miami Herald. Ross later surrendered to Miami Beach police, spent less than a day in custody and was released on bond, WSVN reported.
Connemara Journal is not publishing further details of the allegations while the case is before the courts. Ross is entitled to the presumption of innocence and the allegation has not been tested at trial.
Who is Rick Ross?
Ross is one of the best-known figures in American hip-hop. He rose to fame in the mid-2000s with the hit single Hustlin’ and went on to found the Maybach Music Group label, releasing a string of chart-topping albums in the United States. Outside music, he has built a large business portfolio and a big social media following, which is partly why the case has drawn so much attention online.
What happens next
The case will now proceed in Miami-Dade on the misdemeanour count alone. Neither outlet reported a date for the next hearing, and no details of any updated bond conditions were given in the reports.
Misdemeanour cases in Florida can be resolved at trial, by a plea agreement or by dismissal. Ross’s team has signalled that it intends to fight the remaining charge, with the rapper continuing to deny the allegation. Prosecutors have not commented publicly on why the felony count was not filed.
For now, the headline change is clear: the most serious allegation Ross faced when he was arrested is no longer part of the case, and the prosecution will have to prove the remaining count beyond reasonable doubt if it goes to trial.
We will update this story as the case progresses.
If you have been affected by domestic violence in Ireland, Women’s Aid offers a free 24-hour national freephone helpline on 1800 341 900,.
Sources
- Miami Herald (via The Spokesman-Review): Rapper Rick Ross is charged with misdemeanor in domestic violence case (30 October 2026)
- WSVN 7News: Prosecutors drop felony charge for Rick Ross following second arraignment hearing in Miami (30 October 2026)
Featured image: The Miami Dade County Flagler Courthouse by Rob Olivera, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Leave a Reply