Arts & Culture Ray Jay faces misdemeanor charges
August 21, 2014
City News Service
Entertainer Ray J, who was arrested in May for allegedly groping a woman at a Beverly Hills hotel bar then spitting at a police officer, pleaded not guilty August 20 to four misdemeanor charges. The 23-year-old singer/songwriter and actor, whose real name is William Ray Norwood, remains free on bail. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 28.
He is facing misdemeanor charges of sexual battery, vandalism, battery on a police officer and resisting/delaying a peace officer, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Norwood was arrested at 7:30 p.m. May 30 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. According to police, officers responded to a call about a sexual battery with Norwood alleged to have grabbed the buttocks of a female patron of the bar.
Police said Norwood agreed to leave the hotel bar, but then became belligerent with staff in the valet area of the hotel. Norwood was taken into custody and placed in the back seat of a patrol car, and he kicked out a side window of the vehicle, police said. He also allegedly spat in the face of an officer.
If convicted of all charges, he faces up to four years in jail, prosecutors said. Ray J is the brother of singer/actress Brandy Norwood, and he appeared on her television show “Moesha,” which ended its run in 2001.