The woman who accused media personality Charlamagne Tha God of sexually assaulting her in 2001 is moving forward with a federal lawsuit against the 44-year-old married man.
Radar Online reported that Jessica Reid, now 37, filed a lawsuit alleging The Breakfast Club host committed battery, defamation and sexual assault in a New York court. Charlamagne, born Lenard Larry McKelvey, was previously detained by police after an arrest warrant was issued for “a charge of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the 2nd degree.” The South Carolina native was 22 years old when he was accused of “willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously engage in penile/vaginal intercourse with a fifteen-year-old female child.”
Radar Online reported that Jessica’s mother reported the alleged rape to police in South Carolina. Law enforcement agents found the then-teen was drunk and in tears after the alleged sexual assault. At the time of the incident, Jessica reportedly was uncooperative while the investigation ensued. A rape kit that was given turned up no DNA from Charlamagne. The Breakfast Club host pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and was given three years probation. Details are sketchy, but Charlamagne has denied raping Jessica.
The 37-year-old woman’s current lawsuit alleges that she became acquainted with the radio host through a friend 21 years ago. She finally met up with him at his birthday party. She expressed her discomfort due to the number of men present at the shindig. Jessica claimed that Charlamagne gave her a drink, and shortly after– she began to feel dizzy and eventually passed out. Recalling an alleged conversation she overheard, she said as the men laughed at her– Charlemagne said, “Take her a** upstairs.”
Jessica alleged that two men raped her in a bathroom before Charlamagne reportedly took his turn.
“Charlamagne was having sex with Ms. Reid, and she could not do anything about it,” the suit claimed. “Ms. Reid recalls the ambulance ride vividly, as she was still in shock, hyperventilating, and felt safe.”
She said she’s filing the lawsuit in order to get “her life back.”
Jessica’s time to prosecute Charlamagne has run out, and she has suffered from depression and was in counseling. She claims that she “still has dreams and flashbacks of the incident to this day.”
Charlamagne’s denial of the claim has Jessica reliving the experience repeatedly.
Michael Weinsten, Charlamagne’s lawyer, told the publication, “We are confident that Ms. Reid’s meritless civil lawsuit in which she represents herself will be promptly dismissed. This is the same sexual assault claim that was fully investigated and dismissed by authorities in South Carolina more than 21 years ago. At that time, my client voluntarily submitted his DNA, and it was confirmed his DNA was not found in her rape kit. It is also the same matter that Ms. Reid tried to re-open in 2018 that the South Carolina Solicitor General declined to re-open, suggesting, among other things, it was “not ethical” to do so.”
