A judge has allowed rapper Lil Nas X to enter a mental health diversion programme, which will lead to the dismissal of charges that he attacked Los Angeles police officers. Judge Alan Schneider told the 26-year-old on Monday that if he completes his treatment and obeys all laws for two years, his four felony counts will be dropped.
The court found that the incident was the result of his recently diagnosed bipolar disorder and was an aberration from his usual behaviour. The programme, formally known as postponement of prosecution probation, also requires that he not possess guns or threaten violence.
Authorities allege that Lil Nas X was walking naked down a street in LA’s San Fernando Valley in August last year, and charged at police officers who were responding to calls. A criminal complaint says three officers were hurt. Photos and video showed him walking in only white briefs and white boots before the confrontation.
He had pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. In a video on Instagram a few days after his arrest, he said the experience had been “terrifying” but reassured fans he would be fine. Outside court on Monday, he told Rolling Stone he was “thankful – just very thankful” and that it “could have been much worse”.
