Reality star Ray J pleads not guilty to groping woman at Beverly Hills bar
Reality TV star and singer Ray J pleaded not guilty Tuesday to battery and resisting arrest after being charged with groping a woman at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel bar.
Ray J, whose birth name is Willie Ray Norwood Jr., faces four misdemeanor counts, including sexual battery, vandalism, battery on a police office and resisting arrest, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Ray J was arrested just after 7:30 p.m. May 30 when a woman at the bar claimed he grabbed her behind. He refused to leave the bar and was taken into custody, prosecutors said.
At the time of his arrest, Ray J “subsequently entered the valet area and became belligerent with the valets and refused to leave,” the Beverly Hills Police Department said.
While in custody, he shattered a side window inside the patrol car with his feet, police said. Ray J then “became combative and spat into the face of one of the officers,” police said in a statement.
Ray J, who is the younger brother of singer Brandy, gained attention as Kim Kardashian’s reported partner in a sex tape.
He had a brief singing career and starred with his sister in a reality show based on their family life.
Ray J is scheduled to appear Aug. 28 for a pretrial hearing in the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s Airport branch.
For breaking news in Los Angeles and throughout California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA.
She can be reached at veronica.rocha@latimes.com.
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