Rick Ross turned himself in to Miami Beach police at around 6:10 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026. By the end of the same day he had been booked, appeared before a judge by video, pleaded not guilty, posted bond and walked out.
The rapper, whose legal name is William Leonard Roberts II, faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery, both classified as domestic violence offences. The charges relate to an alleged incident at his home on Star Island in Miami Beach on August 28, 2026.
Ross denies everything. “I’m totally innocent of these fabricated allegations made against me,” he said after his release. His attorneys say he is being wrongfully accused.
This article sets out the charges, the bond, the conditions he is now under, the court dates ahead, and what the legal process realistically looks like from here. Every allegation below is exactly that. Ross has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent unless a court finds otherwise.
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The Charges Rick Ross Faces
Ross was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County on two counts.
The first is felony battery by strangulation. The second is misdemeanor battery. Both are flagged as domestic violence related, which in Florida triggers additional procedural requirements that do not apply to ordinary battery cases.
Charges at a Glance
| Charge | Classification | Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Battery by strangulation | Felony, domestic violence related | $5,000 |
| Battery | Misdemeanor, domestic violence related | $1,000 |
| Total | $6,000 |
Under Florida law, domestic battery by strangulation is a third-degree felony. It is charged when a person is alleged to have knowingly and intentionally impeded another’s normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to the throat or neck, or by blocking the nose or mouth, creating a risk of great bodily harm. The statute applies where the parties are family or household members, which includes people who are or were in a dating relationship.
Simple battery is a first-degree misdemeanor.
Ross has pleaded not guilty to both.
What Police Say Happened
The allegations come from an arrest affidavit filed by the Miami Beach Police Department and from a statement by department spokesperson Christopher Bess.
According to that account, the alleged incident took place on August 28 at Ross’s Star Island residence. Star Island is a private, gated island in Biscayne Bay, one of the most expensive addresses in South Florida.
Bess described the strangulation allegation in procedural terms. “The charges are simple battery and battery by strangulation,” he said. “The victim was wearing a hoodie, at which point in time, the offender grabbed that hoodie, and according to the victim, she began to lose her breath at that time.”
The affidavit, as reported by NBC News, also states that Ross grabbed the woman by her ponytail and slammed her against a wall.
The complainant contacted law enforcement on Tuesday, September 29, roughly a month after the date of the alleged incident. Ross voluntarily surrendered two days later and, according to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ, did not speak to police about the allegations.
The woman has not been named by police. Reporting has noted that Ross’s former partner Jazzma Kendrick publicly accused him of physical abuse in the days before the arrest, posting photographs and allegations online, and that the arrest followed that. Authorities have not officially confirmed the complainant’s identity.
Rick Ross’s Denial and His Legal Team
Ross has responded forcefully and publicly.
“All I can say is that the allegations are false. He is innocent,” attorney Bradley Horenstein said. Ross himself told reporters after posting bond: “I repeat, I’m totally innocent of these fabricated allegations made against me.”
In a statement provided to TMZ, his attorneys went further. “William Roberts II, professionally known as Rick Ross, is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear,” they said, adding that Roberts is innocent and has pleaded not guilty.
Ross has retained two attorneys: Bradley Horenstein, who appeared with him at the bond hearing, and Steve Sadow, a high-profile Atlanta defence lawyer whose previous clients have included several well-known figures in high-stakes criminal matters.
The choice of counsel signals that Ross intends to contest the case rather than seek a quick resolution.
The Bond Hearing and the Viral Exchange
Ross appeared by video before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy S. Glazer on Thursday morning.
The hearing produced a moment that spread far beyond legal coverage. Horenstein asked whether his client’s release could be expedited, citing Ross’s fame and concerns for his safety in custody. Glazer asked what that meant. When the attorney raised the jumpsuit and safety protocols, she replied, “I don’t know,” then addressed Ross directly.
“Hi, Mr. Roberts. I have no idea who you are, except as somebody here in the court who’s going to be treated fairly, just like everybody here.”
The clip circulated widely, mostly framed as a judge refusing to accommodate celebrity. Read in full, the line is a statement about equal treatment rather than a put-down. Glazer declined to treat Ross better than other defendants, not worse. The bond figures and conditions she set are ordinary for the charges involved.
Glazer found probable cause and Ross posted the $6,000 bond the same day.
Rick Ross’ attorney asked for his release to be expedited due to his celebrity status, only for Judge Mindy Glazer to tell Rick Ross, “I have no idea who you are.”
(Via @fox_sheldon) pic.twitter.com/7b6WZl6sdX
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) October 1, 2026
Conditions Rick Ross Is Now Under
Release on bond came with court-imposed restrictions that remain in force while the case is pending.
Conditions of Release
- No contact with the alleged victim, including a stay-away order
- Surrender of all firearms and any concealed weapons permits
- Prohibition on possessing firearms
- No engaging in criminal activity
- No use of illegal drugs
These are standard in Florida domestic violence cases. The firearms surrender in particular is routine in matters involving alleged strangulation.
Violating any of these conditions can result in bond being revoked and the defendant returned to custody, independent of the outcome of the underlying charges.
Court Dates and What Happens Next
The bond hearing was a first appearance. It established probable cause and conditions of release, and resolved nothing about guilt.
Case Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 28, 2026 | Date of the alleged incident at Star Island |
| September 29, 2026 | Complainant contacts Miami Beach police |
| October 1, 2026, 6:10 a.m. | Ross surrenders and is booked at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center |
| October 1, 2026, morning | Bond hearing before Judge Mindy Glazer; not guilty plea entered |
| October 1, 2026 | Ross posts $6,000 bond and is released |
| October 22, 2026 | Arraignment scheduled |
The next formal step is the arraignment on October 22. At arraignment, the formal charges are read and the defendant’s plea is entered on the record. Where a not guilty plea has already been submitted in writing, as here, defendants frequently waive personal appearance and the matter moves to the pre-trial phase.
One step that has not yet occurred publicly is the filing decision by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. In Florida, an arrest by police is not the same as formal charges being filed. Prosecutors review the case independently and decide whether to file an information, file different charges, or decline to proceed. That decision typically comes within weeks of arrest and is a significant milestone in any case of this kind.
If the case proceeds, the likely sequence runs through discovery, depositions, pre-trial motions and a docket sounding before any trial date is set. Florida criminal cases of this type commonly take many months, and domestic violence cases in particular can be affected by whether the complainant continues to cooperate.
Possible outcomes include dismissal, a negotiated plea, diversion in some misdemeanor circumstances, or trial. Nothing about the current posture of the case indicates which is more likely.
Rick Ross’s Previous Legal History
This is not Ross’s first serious criminal matter, and context matters for readers encountering the story fresh.
In June 2015, Ross and his bodyguard Nadrian James were arrested in Fayette County, Georgia, on kidnapping, aggravated assault and aggravated battery charges relating to an alleged incident at his suburban Atlanta estate. Authorities alleged a man was forced into a guesthouse and assaulted. Both were initially denied bail.
That history is a matter of public record, but it has no bearing on the current charges. Prior arrests are generally not admissible to prove guilt in a later case, and a reader should not treat one as evidence of the other.
Ross, 50, is the founder of Maybach Music Group and one of the most commercially successful rappers of the past two decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rick Ross charged with?
He faces one felony count of battery by strangulation and one misdemeanor count of battery, both classified as domestic violence offences. The charges relate to an alleged incident at his Star Island home in Miami Beach on August 28, 2026. He has pleaded not guilty.
How much was Rick Ross’s bond?
Bond was set at $5,000 on the felony battery by strangulation charge and $1,000 on the misdemeanor battery charge, for a combined total of $6,000. He posted bond and was released the same day as his arrest.
When is Rick Ross’s court date?
His arraignment is scheduled for October 22, 2026, in Miami-Dade County. A not guilty plea has already been entered on his behalf.
Was Rick Ross arrested or did he turn himself in?
He voluntarily surrendered to Miami Beach police and was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at around 6:10 a.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026. According to law enforcement sources cited in reporting, he did not speak to police about the allegations.
What has Rick Ross said about the charges?
He has denied them completely. “I’m totally innocent of these fabricated allegations made against me,” he said after his release. His attorneys, Bradley Horenstein and Steve Sadow, said he is “being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear.”
Who is the alleged victim?
Police have not officially named the complainant. Reporting has noted that Ross’s former partner Jazzma Kendrick publicly accused him of physical abuse shortly before the arrest, but authorities have not confirmed her identity as the complainant in this case.
What is battery by strangulation in Florida?
It is a third-degree felony. The charge applies where a person is alleged to have knowingly and intentionally impeded another’s normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to the throat or neck, or blocking the nose or mouth, creating a risk of great bodily harm, and where the parties are family or household members, including current or former dating partners.
What happens next in the case?
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office must decide whether to formally file charges, which is a separate step from the police arrest. If the case proceeds past arraignment on October 22, it moves into discovery and pre-trial proceedings. Outcomes could include dismissal, a plea agreement or trial.
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