Rick Ross can breathe a little easier this week. A felony charge of battery by strangulation has been dropped in his Miami domestic violence case, according to court records filed on Thursday, October 30, 2026. The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office made the decision, citing “insufficient evidence” as the reason for dropping the top charge.
The rapper, whose legal name is William Roberts II, is 50 years old. He was arrested on October 1, 2026, after a woman he was living with told police he hit her during an incident in late August. While the felony is gone, Ross is not completely clear. He still faces a misdemeanor charge of battery domestic violence. His attorney has said Ross will continue to defend himself against the remaining allegation.
What Happened During the Arrest
The case started with a report filed on September 29, 2026, by a woman who was living with Ross at his home on Star Island, an exclusive neighborhood in Miami Beach. According to an arrest report, the woman told detectives that on August 28, Ross accused her of cheating after seeing her tagged in a photo on Instagram.
The report states that Ross struck her multiple times, choked her with the collar of her shirt, and slammed her into a wall. The woman said she was eventually able to leave the home and returned later to collect her belongings after Ross had left.
Ross surrendered at the Miami Beach police station on October 1, two days after the woman filed her report. He was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and later released on bail.
The Judge’s Blunt Response to a Celebrity Request
During a court hearing on the day of his arrest, Ross’s attorney, Bradley Horenstein, spoke to Judge Mindy S. Glazer about his client’s status. Horenstein suggested that Ross’s celebrity might require an expedited legal process.
Judge Glazer was not impressed. “What does that mean?” she asked, according to reports from the hearing. She then addressed Ross directly.
“Hi, Mr. Roberts. I have no idea who you are except as someone here in the court who’s going to be treated fairly just like everybody else.”
The judge set Ross’s bond at $6,000 in total and issued a stay-away order, meaning Ross must stay away from the accuser. Ross pleaded not guilty to all charges.
What the Lawyer Said About the Accusation
Ross’s legal team has been firm from the start. In a statement to ABC News, attorneys Bradley Horenstein and Steve Sadow said the rapper was being wrongfully accused.
“William Roberts II, professionally known as Rick Ross, is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear. The ex did not even file a police report until a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place.”
The statement also asked the public not to judge the case before it is finished. “Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges. He respectfully requests that his friends, fans and the general public not prejudge the situation and allow the judicial process to run its course.”
After leaving jail on October 1, Ross spoke to reporters himself. “I am totally innocent of these fabricated allegations made against me,” he said.
The Remaining Misdemeanor Charge
The felony charge of battery by strangulation is gone, but the misdemeanor charge of battery domestic violence remains. Ross was arraigned on the misdemeanor on Friday, October 30, 2026, the same day the felony was dropped. The arraignment had originally been set for October 22, but it was reset to a later date.
Prosecutors filed the misdemeanor charge after reviewing the evidence. The fact that the felony was dropped does not automatically mean the misdemeanor will disappear. The case will continue in the Miami-Dade court system.
A Public Back-and-Forth That Started Before the Arrest
The allegations became public before Ross was ever arrested. On September 27, 2026, model and real estate agent Jazzma Kendrick posted images on Instagram Stories that appeared to show an injury to her lip. She claimed Ross was responsible and called herself his “punching bag” in a response to a follower.
The public reaction was immediate. South African rapper Cassper Nyovest posted on X that he was withdrawing his support. “Rick Ross just lost a fan in me,” he wrote. Rapper 50 Cent, a longtime rival of Ross, also commented on social media. “I’d laugh at him, but domestic violence is not a joke,” 50 Cent wrote on September 27.
Some fans defended Ross, while others said the allegations were serious enough to change how they viewed him. The split in reaction has followed the case through every new development.
Ross’s Past Legal History Comes Back Into Focus
This is not Ross’s first time dealing with the legal system. In 2017, he pleaded no contest to aggravated assault after being accused of forcing a man into a guesthouse at his suburban Atlanta mansion in 2015 and beating him with a handgun, according to Georgia court records. Under a Georgia first-time offender program, the court later issued an order that cleared him of guilt on that felony count.
That history has been mentioned repeatedly in coverage of the current Miami case. Supporters of Ross point to the 2017 outcome as proof that he can defend himself in court. Critics say the pattern of allegations is concerning regardless of the legal results.
Who Is Rick Ross?
Rick Ross is one of the most recognizable names in hip-hop. He broke through in 2006 with the single “Hustlin’,” which was certified platinum twice by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song sparked a bidding war, and he signed with Def Jam Records, which was headed by Jay-Z at the time.
His debut album, Port of Miami, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and also went platinum. A series of chart-topping albums followed, including Trilla in 2008 and Deeper Than Rap in 2009. He has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards.
In 2008, Ross founded the label Maybach Music Group, which helped build the careers of artists like Wale, Meek Mill, and French Montana. His most recent album, Set In Stone, was released in July 2026.
The rapper has long been associated with South Florida and is credited with helping put Miami on the hip-hop map in the early 2000s, a time when most of the South’s rap attention was on Atlanta and Houston.
What the Dropped Charge Means for the Case
Dropping a felony charge is a significant development, but it does not end the case. The misdemeanor charge of battery domestic violence is still active. The State Attorney’s Office has not said whether it will pursue the misdemeanor with the same intensity now that the felony is gone.
For Ross, the dropped felony removes the most serious possible punishment from the table. A felony battery by strangulation conviction could have carried prison time. A misdemeanor battery domestic violence charge is still serious, but it is a lower-level offense.
The case is now in the hands of the Miami-Dade court system. Ross has maintained his innocence from the beginning, and his legal team has made it clear they intend to fight the remaining charge.
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A Timeline of the Case
- August 28, 2026 — An incident takes place at Ross’s Star Island home. A woman later tells police Ross accused her of cheating, struck her, and choked her with the collar of her shirt.
- September 27, 2026 — Jazzma Kendrick posts images and allegations on Instagram. Public reaction begins.
- September 29, 2026 — The woman files a report with Miami Beach police.
- October 1, 2026 — Ross surrenders at the Miami Beach police station. He is arrested and booked. He appears before Judge Mindy Glazer, who sets bond at $6,000 and issues a stay-away order.
- October 22, 2026 — An initial arraignment date is reset.
- October 30, 2026 — The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office drops the felony battery by strangulation charge, citing insufficient evidence. Ross is arraigned on the misdemeanor charge the same day.
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