SEATTLE -- The King County Prosecutor's Office has formally declined to file sexual assault charges against the rapper Nelly that stemmed from an incident in Auburn in October, the lawyer for the victim said Wednesday night.
Karen Koehler, the attorney for the woman who accused Nelly of raping her, released the statement she had received Wednesday afternoon from the King County Prosecutor's Office.
"Our office has formally declined to file charges on this matter.
"The following statement will be released if there are inquires on the status of the case:
'Police responded to and investigated a sexual assault allegation involving Mr. Haynes. However, within days of her initial report to police, the complainant, through her attorney, informed investigators from the Auburn police department that she did not wish to assist in prosecution or the investigation of Mr. Haynes. While we have reviewed the existing investigative material, without the assistance of the complainant, this office is unable to proceed or fully assess the merits of the case.'
Sincerely,
Nicole L. Weston and Kathy Van Olst, senior deputy prosecuting attorney"
The prosecutors' decision not to file charges was expected, as the victim basically told them to drop the case.
The woman who reported being raped by rapper Nelly after his concert in Auburn said in October that she would not testify against him.
Karen Koehler, the woman's lawyer, sent a letter to investigators and media outlets in October saying her client is putting a halt to the investigation:
The letter went on to say that the woman "never wanted notoriety" and "never wanted a dime from that man."
Auburn police arrested Nelly, Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., just hours after an October performance at Auburn's White River Amphitheatre.
According to a promotional flyer, Nelly was also scheduled to attend a 4-year anniversary party at the Aston Manor nightclub in Seattle later that night.
Officers say Nelly went to Seattle, then returned to his tour bus in Auburn with the woman. She called 911 shortly after 3:45 a.m. alleging she was sexually assaulted.
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Nelly at White River Ampitheatre on Friday night
Nelly at White River Ampitheatre on Friday night
A police spokesperson says the tour bus was parked near the Walmart Supercenter on Outlet Collection Way in Auburn.
Officers said they had probable cause to arrest the rapper and he was booked into the SCORE jail in Des Moines, Wash., for Rape 2nd Degree.
The rapper's attorney denied the claims.
“Nelly is the victim of a completely fabricated allegation,” said attorney Scott Rosenblum in a statement released to Q13 News.
“Our initial investigation clearly establishes this allegation is devoid of credibility and is motivated by greed and vindictiveness. I am confident, once this scurrilous accusation is thoroughly investigated, there will be no charges. Nelly is prepared to address and pursue all legal avenues to redress any damage caused by this clearly false allegation.”
Following his release, Nelly took to Twitter and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Read the full letter from the attorney below:
Click here to read the first letter dated Oct. 9.