Reality star Ray J gets probation in Beverly Hills trespassing incident
Reality TV star and singer Ray J pleaded no contest Thursday to trespassing after being accused of groping a woman at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel bar and refusing to leave.
Ray J, 33, whose birth name is Willie Ray Norwood Jr., was initially charged with 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.
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FOR THE RECORD
An earlier version of this post said in the headline that Norwood received probation in a groping incident. Norwood’s sentence was in response to a trespassing charge.
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But in conjunction with his pleading no contest Thursday, those charges were dropped and Norwood was sentenced to three years’ probation and 50 hours of community service. He was also ordered to attend alcohol therapy and anger management classes.
Ray J was arrested just after 7:30 p.m. May 30 when a woman at the bar claimed he grabbed her buttocks. 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 patrol car window 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.
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