Photo Credit: Lil Nas X for HOTSPOTATL / CC by 3.0
Lil Nas X hopes to have his felony assault charges dismissed after a judge granted him entry into a mental health diversion program.
On Monday, rapper Lil Nas X, whose legal name is Montero Hill, appeared in Los Angeles court. There, Judge Alan Schneider ruled that the musician’s felony assault charges would be cleared as long as he complies with a mental health treatment plan and obeys all laws for the next two years. The news follows his arrest in August after he was seen wandering LA’s Ventura Boulevard in his underwear and cowboy boots.
According to the judge, the “Old Town Road” singer’s behavior that led to his arrest last summer was “aberrant from his normal conduct,” and was related to his bipolar diagnosis. Judge Schneider said that Hill “appears to be doing very well,” and that “when treated, he is much better off, and society is much better off.”
“I’m thankful. Just very thankful,” the artist told Rolling Stone after the hearing. “It could have been much worse.”
His defense attorney, Christy O’Connor, told the court that the musician voluntarily checked himself into The Meadows treatment hospital in Arizona after his arrest. He received nearly two months of inpatient care there that was “absolutely successful,” and has since transitioned to what she called a “pretty rigorous mental health regimen.” This includes weekly sessions with a psychotherapist and appointments with a psychiatrist every three months.
O’Connor added that Hill’s arrest last summer was highly public and “humiliating,” and that her client is committed to his ongoing care. The court scheduled a progress report hearing for July 29, but Hill will not need to appear in person.
Last August, the 26-year-old Hill was arrested after passersby captured video of him walking down Ventura Boulevard in the early morning hours, wearing only his underwear and a pair of cowboy boots. Later, prosecutors claimed he was “strolling naked” down the street when police arrived.
According to authorities, Hill assaulted responding officers who tried to take him into custody, injuring three of them. He was charged with three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. Hill pleaded not guilty and was facing up to five years in state prison if convicted.