Nicki Minaj's husband Kenneth Petty arrested for not registering as sex offender in California
Nicki Minaj's husband and convicted sex offender Kenneth Petty has been arrested by US Marshals on an indictment for failing to register as a sex offender. Petty was reportedly placed in federal custody on Wednesday, March 4, for not registering as a sex offender in California, although he is registered in the state of New York.
Petty moved to California in July 2019 and married Nicki Minaj just a few months later, on October 22. According to law enforcement, Petty got pulled over in Beverly Hills in November, which led to officers discovering that Petty had not registered as a sex offender in California, as mandated by the law.
Petty willingly turned himself into the Marshals, according to a TMZ report. Petty was convicted on a charge of attempted rape at the age of 16 all the way back in 1995 in relation to a 1994 case involving a woman who said that he had placed a "hard circular object" against her while she was walking down a street.
Petty's accuser also claimed that he led her to a home and into a bedroom where he had sex with her by force. He also threatened her with a knife when she attempted to leave. As a result, he spent four years in prison and was also placed on the sex offender registry.
His recent trouble began when Beverly Hills PD made a traffic stop on November 15 and discovered that Petty had failed to register in the state, leading to him being arrested and later released on a $20,000 bond. At the time, the LA County DA charged him for failing to register as a sex offender.
However, it appears he didn't register even after the incident as he was indicted in federal court for the same crime. If convicted on the federal charge, Petty could face up to 10 years in prison.
Here's the latest update on the case: Around 3 pm PT, Petty appeared in court and submitted a "not guilty" plea. Prosecutors reportedly wanted Petty placed on house arrest, but his attorney objected and as a compromise, Petty will be required to wear an ankle monitor and adhere to a curfew.
Petty's lawyer revealed to reporters that he will be posting a $100,000 bond later today. Petty has also been placed under pretrial supervision and has already surrendered his passport, with his travel restricted to Southern California.
While under supervision, Petty has also been forbidden from using any and all substances, even legal marijuana from dispensaries in LA. Petty's next hearing has been scheduled for March 23.