The Mariah the Scientist mugshot circulated in early May 2024 after the R&B singer, whose legal name is Mariah Amani Buckles, was booked into the Fulton County jail on May 1, 2024, on charges of battery and simple battery. The photo was released by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office and picked up by Atlanta News First and other outlets.1Atlanta News First. R&B Singer Mariah the Scientist Arrested After Allegedly Pulling Off Woman’s Wig She has since pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial.
What She Was Accused Of
The charges stem from an incident on March 28, 2024, at Cavo Kitchen and Cocktails, a lounge in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. According to police documents, a woman named Cleopatra Dues told officers that Buckles approached her unprovoked, grabbed her by her wig and pulled it off her head, then dragged her across a table and onto the floor.2Rolling Stone. Mariah the Scientist Arrested After Alleged Altercation in Atlanta Club Dues said she suffered minor injuries to her legs and feet.3Stereogum. Mariah the Scientist Arrested for Allegedly Beating Up Atlanta Nightclub Patron
Dues told police she was not wearing her glasses during the incident and could not identify her attacker on the spot, but later determined it was Buckles. She said she had never interacted with the singer before and did not know why she had been attacked. She called 911 after leaving the lounge because she said she felt unsafe.4Fox 5 Atlanta. Mariah the Scientist Arrested After Allegedly Dragging Woman in Atlanta Club
The Booking and Bond Conditions
Although the alleged incident occurred on March 28, Buckles was not arrested until more than a month later, on May 1, 2024. Available reporting does not explain the delay. She was booked into the Fulton County jail on charges of battery and simple battery and released the same day after posting a $5,000 bond.5Billboard. Mariah the Scientist Arrested Following Fight at Atlanta Nightclub
Her bond conditions required her to have no contact with Dues, stay away from Cavo Kitchen and Cocktails, complete and pay for an anger management class, refrain from alcohol and drugs, and not possess weapons.5Billboard. Mariah the Scientist Arrested Following Fight at Atlanta Nightclub
Not Guilty Plea and Case Status
In early July 2024, court documents showed that Buckles had pleaded not guilty to the simple battery charge. Her attorney, Brian Steel, filed a waiver of arraignment and demanded a jury trial.6Complex. Mariah the Scientist Arrested for Attack in Atlanta Club Neither Buckles nor Steel has commented publicly on the incident or the charges.7TMZ. Mariah the Scientist Pleads Not Guilty in Assault Case
No public resolution of the case, whether through trial, plea, or dismissal, has appeared in available reporting as of mid-2026.
Simple Battery Under Georgia Law
Under Georgia Code § 16-5-23, simple battery is defined as intentionally making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with another person, or intentionally causing physical harm. In its standard form, it is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum jail term of up to 12 months.8Justia. Georgia Code § 16-5-23 – Simple Battery The charge can be elevated to a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature in certain circumstances, such as when the victim is elderly, pregnant, or a law enforcement officer, or when the defendant has prior convictions for the same offense.
Who the Accuser Is
Multiple outlets reported that Cleopatra Dues is an ex-girlfriend of Young Thug, the rapper who was in a relationship with Buckles at the time of the alleged incident.1Atlanta News First. R&B Singer Mariah the Scientist Arrested After Allegedly Pulling Off Woman’s Wig Police documents do not describe a motive, and Dues told officers she had no prior interaction with the singer.