Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, was arrested on Wednesday in Los Angeles for refusing to register as a sex offender. He reportedly surrendered himself to US Marshals.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, he appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He has another scheduled hearing for March 23, and his trial is set for April 28.
TMZ reported that he was released on bond for $100,000 and will be required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. He will be subject to travel restrictions and a curfew.
As part of his bond restrictions, Petty is not allowed to take any drugs, including Marijuana, even from legal dispensaries. He also surrendered his passport, and he is not permitted to leave Southern California.
Kenneth Petty’s murky past
Petty’s legal worries stem from a 1995 conviction for first-degree attempted rape. He served almost four years in a New York state prison and was required to register as a sex offender.
When he moved to California in July 2019, he should have registered with local authorities. A traffic stop by Beverly Hills PD last November brought his indiscretion to light.
Concerns about Minaj’s choice in men is not a new phenomenon, and when she announced last year that she was retiring from hip hop to start a family with Petty, many expressed trepidation at the prospect.
Nicki Minaj has defended husband, Kenneth Petty
Minaj has publicly supported her hubby over his murky past.
In 2018 she allegedly referenced the rape charge when she wrote on social media, “He was 15, she was 16. In a relationship. But go awf Internet. Y’all can’t run my life. Y’all can’t even run y’all own life. Thank you boo.”
The pair recently celebrated Valentine’s Day together, posting a picture of the two of them looking beautiful with a simple, “Happy Valentine’s day message.”
As well as the attempted rape conviction, Petty also spent ten months in prison in 2006 after pleading guilty to a charge of first-degree manslaughter.
Nicki and Kenneth tied the knot last October in what seemed to be a low-key ceremony.
They announced the happy union on Instagram with a video of Mr. and Mrs. Mugs, and a caption indicating she was taking his name,” Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty.”
Minaj was born Onika Tanya Maraj.
Minaj had announced she was dating Petty in December 2018, after months of rumors, when she posted a photo of the two of them together on Instagram.