(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
After a report emerged claiming a woman who alleged Charlamagne Tha God raped her 17 years ago, a new petition with more than 4,000 supports is calling for the radio host to be fired from “The Breakfast Club.”
Jessica Reid accused Charlamange, whose real name is Lenard McKelvey, of raping her in 2001. She and her mother told The Blast in a Tuesday, July 10 report that they want the case to be re-opened.
Documents obtained by the website revealed Charlamagne was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor at age 22. The filing accused the future New York Times best-selling author of “willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously [engaging] in penile/vaginal intercourse with a 15-year-old female child.”
Police arrived at the Short Stay Naval Recreational Center in Charleston, S.C., in June 2001 and came into contact with who females who officers said seemed very intoxicated and disoriented about where they were.
But during the case, Reid was uncooperative at mother Joslyn’s doing and Charlamagne ultimately pled guilty to a lesser charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He received a sentence of 3 years probation. A final judgment was handed down in 2002.
However, Reid now says she did not get closure and hasn’t “been able to get over it.” She’s seeking legal representation and Joslyn told the website she has notified officials in Berkeley County about their plans and asked about the next steps.
After the story was published, a Care 2 petition was launched in support of Charlamagne’s accuser.
“In 2001, 15-year-old Jessica Reid accused Charlamagne Tha God of drugging and raping her … Videos have surfaced where Charlamagne denied involvement, but court documents show he did have sexual contact with the victim,” the letter from Derrick Real reads before alluding to South Carolina’s lack of a statute of limitations on prosecution for criminal sexual conduct with a minor. “He can still be prosecuted, and he should be. We want to send a powerful message to all of the people who like to prey on innocent children that it’s not going to happen on our watch! No matter how much money or influence you have, we will not allow you to hurt our children.”
In 2013, Charlamagne sat down with DJ Akademiks saying he threw a party where the alleged rape occurred but he left early while his friends stuck around. He heard the next day that the woman, who Charlamange said had been drinking and getting high, said she was raped.
When asked how he beat the charge, Chalamagne said, “’cause I didn’t do it.”
He explained he went to the jailhouse believing one of his cousins was there and took full responsibility for what happened a the party. Meanwhile, his other cousins only told him another relative was at the jail out of spite for not being invited to the party.
“So two weeks later, they come and arrest me for criminal sexual contact with a minor,” he said, noting he gave blood and DNA samples.
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