Jessica Reid’s lawsuit against Charlamagne tha God was dismissed by a federal judge in the Southern District of New York on September 30, 2024. Reid, a South Carolina woman, had accused the radio host, whose legal name is Lenard Larry McKelvey, of sexually assaulting her in 2001 when she was 15. Her civil case, filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, ended without any claim surviving the defendants’ motions to dismiss. McKelvey has denied the allegation from the start, and the underlying criminal matter was resolved by a plea deal to a lesser charge back in 2002.
What Reid Accused Charlamagne of Doing in 2001
Reid met McKelvey in 2001, the year she turned 15. On June 7, 2001, she attended his 23rd birthday party at a rental unit at the Short Stay Naval Recreation Center in Summerville, South Carolina. According to court filings, she alleged that after drinking something McKelvey handed her, she became dizzy and unable to walk. She said two men took her into a bathroom, groped her, and penetrated her with their fingers. She further alleged that McKelvey moved her to a bedroom, told her he was “going to take care of you,” kissed her, and lay on top of her while she was unable to move.1CaseMine. Reid v. Mckelvey, No. 22-CV-10708
Reid’s mother called police. Berkeley County Sheriff’s deputies responded and took Reid to Summerville Medical Center, where a rape kit was performed. Reporting citing the sheriff’s report said a friend found Reid “naked and crying, stating she had been raped,” and that hospital staff “corroborated that a sexual assault had occurred.”2The State. Charlamagne Tha God Rape Accusation
The Criminal Charge and 2002 Plea
McKelvey was arrested and indicted on second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. The indictment alleged he did “willfully, unlawfully and feloniously engage in penile/vaginal intercourse with a fifteen year old female child.”2The State. Charlamagne Tha God Rape Accusation He voluntarily provided blood and semen samples for DNA testing without a warrant or attorney present.3Complex. Charlamagne Tha God DNA Test From Rape Case Revealed Analysis of oral, vaginal, and rectal swabs from the rape kit found no traces of his semen, and his DNA did not match the evidence collected from Reid.4OkayPlayer. Uncovered Documents Show Charlamagne Tha God’s DNA Was Not Found on Accuser
In 2002, McKelvey pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was sentenced to three years of probation and a $103 fine. The felony sexual conduct charge was dismissed.5Billboard. Charlamagne Tha God Rape 2001 Case Not Reopened South Carolina Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett A. Wilson later said the plea was negotiated because Reid did not cooperate with prosecutors, and that Reid’s mother had interfered with efforts to secure her testimony.2The State. Charlamagne Tha God Rape Accusation
Reid tried to press charges again in 2006 and 2008. The sheriff’s office told her the statute of limitations had run.1CaseMine. Reid v. Mckelvey, No. 22-CV-10708
The 2018 Resurgence and Denial
The story returned to public attention in July 2018 after Reid told The Blast she wanted the case reopened. A Care2 petition launched on July 11, 2018, called on iHeartMedia to fire Charlamagne from The Breakfast Club and gathered thousands of signatures within days.6New York Daily News. Charlamagne Tha God Denies Rape Allegation Amid Calls for Firing iHeartMedia declined to comment.7Billboard. Charlamagne Tha God Rape Charges Resurface, Petition for Firing
Through attorneys Marty Singer and Michael Weinstein, McKelvey issued a statement to TMZ: “More than seventeen years ago, Charlamagne was accused of a sexual assault. He never had sexual relations or any physical contact with the accuser and even provided DNA to prove it.” His lawyers added that “while Charlamagne has empathy for all sexual assault victims, he cannot take responsibility for a crime he did not commit.”8iHeartRadio – Power 105.1. Charlamagne Tha God Gives a Statement on Recent Allegations
Reid also asked South Carolina prosecutors to reopen the case that year. Solicitor Wilson declined, saying the state was “duty bound to honor the agreement” reached in 2002 and that under the law McKelvey must be “presumed innocent of the dismissed allegation.”9Complex. Prosecutor: Charlamagne Tha God Rape Case Won’t Be Reopened
By 2021, Reid had raised nearly $15,000 on GoFundMe from more than 250 donors, saying the funds would pay a private investigator to identify the two men she alleged had held her in the bathroom. “We have officially hired a team, working with us and for us,” Reid wrote. “They are doing the best they can, they are working very hard to find enough information to bring charges against the other two perpetrators.”10Digital Music News. Jessica Reid Charlamagne Tha God Legal Defense
The 2022 Federal Lawsuit
On December 19, 2022, Reid filed a federal civil suit in the Southern District of New York, Reid v. McKelvey, No. 22-CV-10708. She filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which Governor Kathy Hochul signed on May 24, 2022. That law opened a one-year window, from November 24, 2022, through November 24, 2023, in which adults could bring civil claims for sexual offenses regardless of when the alleged conduct occurred.11New York Governor’s Office. Governor Hochul Signs Adult Survivors Act
The complaint named three defendants and brought several claims:
- Against Lenard Larry McKelvey: sexual assault, assault, battery, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
- Against iHeartMedia, Inc.: defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
- Against Simon & Schuster, LLC: named as a defendant, with specific claims less detailed in the available record.
Reid alleged she continued to suffer from PTSD. Her complaint stated that “every time Ms. Reid turns on the radio and hears his voice, sees him on TV, and walks past his books in the stores, she is reminded of what Charlamagne did to her.”12Vibe. Charlamagne Sexual Assault Battery Case Dismissed
What the Defendants Argued
All three defendants moved to dismiss. McKelvey’s team pointed to the 2001 DNA results, the solicitor’s 2018 refusal to reopen the criminal case, and witness statements saying McKelvey had already left the party when the alleged assault happened. Attorney Michael Weinstein called it a “meritless civil lawsuit” and predicted it would be “promptly dismissed.”13Vibe. Charlamagne Tha God Sexual Assault Dismissal Request
The Dismissal
On August 23, 2024, Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang issued a Report and Recommendation advising that the motions to dismiss from McKelvey and iHeartMedia be granted “in all respects,” with a separate recommendation addressing Simon & Schuster’s motion.14CourtListener. Reid v. Mckelvey, Docket No. 1:22-cv-10708
On September 30, 2024, U.S. District Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke adopted those recommendations. She dismissed every claim against all three defendants without leave to amend, finding that amendment would be futile. On the defamation claims, the court noted New York’s one-year statute of limitations, which meant statements published before December 19, 2021, could not support a claim. The Clerk’s Judgment closed the case the same day.14CourtListener. Reid v. Mckelvey, Docket No. 1:22-cv-10708
Based on the available docket, Reid did not appeal to the Second Circuit.14CourtListener. Reid v. Mckelvey, Docket No. 1:22-cv-10708
Where Things Stand
Both tracks against McKelvey are now closed. The criminal matter was resolved by the 2002 plea to contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and Solicitor Wilson has said the dismissed felony charge will not be revisited.15Billboard. Charlamagne Tha God Rape Charge Statement Dropped The civil suit ended in dismissal at the pleading stage, without an appeal on the docket. McKelvey has consistently denied the allegation, and Reid has continued to maintain publicly that the assault occurred.