Assault Charges Against Lil Nas X To Be Dropped Pending Mental Health Treatment

After his arrest for battery of a police officer last summer after an erratic post-midnight expedition into the streets of Los Angeles, Lil Nas X was charged with four felonies, raising the prospect of potential jail time. In the immediate aftermath, he called his arrest and weekend-long jail stint "terrifying," and his lawyer said he was not taking illegal drugs at the time of his arrest. LNX (pictured above at a hearing last month) had disclosed mental health struggles to fans several months before the arrest, and a few weeks afterward, his lawyer said he was undergoing unspecified treatment.

Now, it looks like those charges are going to disappear. Today, a judge granted a mental health diversion to Lil Nas X, real name Montero Hill, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to Billboard. If he completes his prescribed mental health treatment for the next two years and avoids further criminal charges, his charges for attacking officers last August will be wiped from his record. Per Rolling Stone, during today's hearing, Judge Alan Schneider said the rapper's behavior was linked to his bipolar disorder diagnosis, describing the altercation with police as "aberrant from his normal conduct." A judge will decide whether to wipe LNX's record in April 2028.

After the hearing, a "thankful" Lil Nas X told reporters he was "just going through the flow of life." He also shared a message with fans: "I love you so much, and I miss you so much." Below, watch footage of him walking out of the courthouse.