US rapper Lil Nas X pleads not guilty to felony charges of assaulting police

LOS ANGELES – Grammy-winning musician Lil Nas X on Aug 25 pleaded not guilty to four felony charges after the authorities said he assaulted police officers who found him walking naked down a street in Los Angeles.

A judge set bail at US$75,000 (S$96,400) and said the American rapper must attend an outpatient drug rehabilitation programme.

Police said they believed Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Hill, was using drugs at the time of the incident.

His attorney Christy O’Connor, however, said there was no evidence of drug use by the 26-year-old singer.

“This is just an aberrant episode in an otherwise productive life,” she said.

Lil Nas X was charged with three counts of battery of a police officer and one count of resisting an officer. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.

A Los Angeles police spokesperson said last week that officers had responded to reports of Lil Nas X walking down a street in the Studio City neighbourhood of Los Angeles in his underwear in the early morning on Aug 21.

He was allegedly naked when the police arrived, the district attorney’s office said. He was accused of assaulting the officers who were trying to take him into custody, injuring three of them.

Lil Nas X appeared in court on Aug 25 in blue prison garb and replied “yes” when asked if he understood the bail conditions.

He is the first openly gay man to receive a Country Music Association Award, winning for his 2018 hit Old Town Road. He also earned two Grammys for the song.

His father Robert Stafford told reporters outside the courthouse that the singer was remorseful for what happened.

“He’s going to get the help that he needs,” Mr Stafford said. REUTERS