Prosecutors reduce Rick Ross charges to misdemeanor battery in Star Island domestic violence case

One misdemeanor count of battery with domestic violence will be the sole charge against rapper Rick Ross in a dispute at his Star Island home.

Florida state prosecutors filed the charge on Oct. 30, according to court documents. Ross is scheduled for his arraignment on Friday.

The rapper, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, was originally booked on Oct. 1 on two counts. Those included a felony charge of battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of battery. The state has since dropped both original counts, leaving only the new misdemeanor battery charge.

Ross has pleaded not guilty to the pending charge. He turned himself in to Miami Beach police on Oct. 1, authorities said. He declined to provide a statement at the time of his arrest, citing the advice of his legal counsel.

The alleged incident occurred on the morning of Aug. 28 at the couple's shared residence in the exclusive island neighborhood. Police reports state that Ross was angered after his girlfriend was tagged in an Instagram photo. He questioned her about whether she had lied to him and accused her of maintaining a romantic relationship with someone she described as a friend.

According to the arrest report, Ross slapped the victim in the face. He struck her in the chest multiple times. Police said he choked her by grabbing the collar of her hoodie and twisting it, preventing her from breathing. Ross also grabbed her by the ponytail and slammed her against a wall. He struck her in the face while she was bent over, causing a busted lip. He then pushed her to the floor and used a shower head to spray her with water.

The victim exited the bathroom and left the home. She returned briefly before gathering her belongings and departing for good. She provided police with photographic evidence of her injuries, which included timestamps matching the time of the incident. Police also noted that a friend who arrived to pick the victim up was turned away by Ross. Ross posted a picture of that friend arriving at the scene on his Instagram account.

Brad Horenstein, Ross' defense attorney, said last week that his client is innocent. Horenstein stated, "There are serious doubts about this case. These are fabrications. We asked you to hold your judgment and wait because the truth will come out."

Miami Beach Police spokesman Christopher Bess said investigators obtained a victim statement, photographs of injuries, and surveillance video of the alleged incident. Bess stated that the evidence established probable cause for the arrest and described the event as a very violent attack. He added that the department investigates domestic violence allegations swiftly, regardless of the status of the alleged offender.

Ross is a South Florida native who found stardom in 2005 with his hit song "Hustlin.'" He has had dozens of songs on the Billboard Hot 100 over his career, which has spanned two decades.