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Rick Ross pleads no contest to 5 misdemeanor charges in assault, kidnapping case

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News has learned rapper Rick Ross has pleaded no contest to 5 misdemeanor charges in the kidnapping and assault case against him.

A hearing was held Tuesday where  Ross, whose real name is William Roberts, asked a judge to throw out the charges against him because he says he was defending himself.

Roberts and his personal manager, Nadrian James, faced kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm during a felony after two of Roberts then-groundskeepers said he and James pistol-whipped them and beat them in the guest house of Roberts’ mansion in June 2015.

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The men lived at the property while they worked there. The men said Roberts was angry after they had family members over.

Roberts claims the men did not live there and he had no knowledge they would have people over.

Roberts’ attorney claims no one was pistol whipped and Roberts attacked the men after they surprised him in the home while it was dark.