Rapper Pleads Not Guilty to Battery and Resisting Arrest Following Bizarre Incident on Ventura Boulevard

August 26, 2025

LOS ANGELES — Grammy-winning rapper Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, was charged with four felony counts on Monday, August 25, 2025, following an altercation with police officers in Los Angeles. The charges stem from an incident last week where the 26-year-old artist allegedly charged at officers while walking naked down Ventura Boulevard in the Studio City neighborhood, a major thoroughfare in the city.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Lil Nas X faces three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. The charges were upgraded from an initial misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer, which was filed after his arrest on Thursday, August 21. If convicted, the “Old Town Road” rapper could face up to five years in prison.

The incident occurred shortly before 6 a.m. on Thursday when Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to reports of a man walking nearly naked on Ventura Boulevard. Video footage obtained by TMZ showed Lil Nas X, wearing only underwear and white cowboy boots, strutting down the street and reciting lyrics from Nicki Minaj’s verse in Kanye West’s “Monster.” Police allege that when they approached him, he became aggressive, charging at the officers and injuring three of them during the confrontation.

Authorities suspected a possible drug overdose and transported Lil Nas X to a local hospital for evaluation before he was booked into the Valley Jail in Van Nuys. He remained in custody over the weekend until his arraignment on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. A judge set his bail at $75,000, a significant reduction from the $300,000 initially recommended, and ordered him to attend four Narcotics Anonymous meetings per week or enroll in an outpatient drug rehabilitation program as a condition of his release. Court records confirm he was released on bond Monday afternoon.

Lil Nas X’s attorney, Christy O’Connor, defended her client in court, describing the incident as an “absolute aberration” in the rapper’s otherwise “remarkable” life. She highlighted his achievements, including two Grammy Awards for his 2018 hit “Old Town Road,” which spent a record 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. O’Connor also disputed claims that Lil Nas X was under the influence of illegal drugs, noting that test results were still pending. Another attorney, Drew Findling, who has previously represented high-profile clients like Cardi B and Donald Trump, told reporters outside the courthouse that the rapper is “doing great mentally” and that they expect him to be released soon. “He’s never been in trouble for a split second in his existence,” Findling said, emphasizing that this incident would not derail Lil Nas X’s career.

The rapper’s father, Robert Stafford, also spoke to reporters, expressing that his son was “very remorseful” and asking for prayers. “He’s going to get the help that he needs,” Stafford said, denying claims of drug use during the incident.

The arrest comes at a challenging time for Lil Nas X, who has been open about personal struggles in recent months. In April 2025, he shared on Instagram that he was hospitalized for sudden partial facial paralysis, which some fans speculated could be Bell’s palsy. He also canceled a headlining performance at West Hollywood’s Outloud pride music festival in May due to ongoing health issues. On social media, the rapper has been teasing new music, including snippets of his upcoming second studio album, *Dreamboy*, and a collaboration with Lil Jon, suggesting a new chapter in his career.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman condemned the alleged assault, stating, “Attacking police officers is more than just a crime against those individuals but a direct threat to public safety. Anyone who assaults law enforcement will face serious consequences, no matter who they are or how famous they may be.”

Lil Nas X, known for his genre-bending music and provocative style, rose to global fame with “Old Town Road,” a country-hip-hop crossover that reshaped industry conversations about genre and representation. His 2021 album *Montero* earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year, and he became the first openly gay man to win a Country Music Association Award in 2019. Despite his success, his bold imagery, including the controversial “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” music video and “Satan Shoes” collaboration, has often sparked backlash from conservative groups.