Grammy-winning artist Lil Nas X, born Montero Hill, is “in treatment” at an undisclosed facility in another state following his arrest and arraignment on felony charges last month, his lawyers confirmed at a court hearing Monday.
“Defendant is allowed to remain out of state as long as he remains in treatment,” Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Shellie Samuels said as she modified the conditions of Hill’s release to allow for the ongoing inpatient care. If Hill’s “treatment changes, and he becomes outpatient, then we’ll talk,” she said, setting the next hearing in the case for November. The judge sealed the details of the type of care Hill is seeking.
“You heard the ‘treatment’ word. We’re doing what is best for Montero from a personal standpoint and a professional standpoint, but most importantly, for his well-being,” Hill’s lawyer, Drew Findling, said after the hearing. “He is surrounded by an amazing family, an amazing team of people that care about him and love him. And we’re just addressing those issues. It’s really as simple as that. He’s had a great life, and he’ll continue to have a great life. This is a bump that he’s going to get over.”
In August, Hill was charged with three felony counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one felony count of resisting an executive officer. Prosecutors claim Hill was “strolling naked” along Ventura Boulevard around 5:40 a.m. on Aug. 21 when police arrived at the scene. They allege Hill assaulted the responding officers trying to take him into custody, injuring at least three of them. If convicted as charged, Hill faces up to five years in state prison.
Hill pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Aug. 25 and was released on a $75,000 bond after spending the weekend in jail. He later addressed the arrest in a social media post, assuring fans he was safe. “Your girl is gonna be OK, y’all,” Hill said in an Instagram Story post. “OK? She’s gonna be all right. Shit.” Letting out a weary laugh, he said, “That was fucking terrifying. That was terrifying. That was a terrifying last four days. But your girl is gonna be all right.”
Bystander video of Hill roaming along the main thoroughfare in Studio City was posted on TMZ. It showed Hill wearing underwear and a pair of cowboy boots as he walked in the street. In one clip, he was seen with an orange traffic cone on his head.
Before the arrest, Hill shared some unreleased music and mirror selfies in Instagram posts that sparked concern. Los Angeles Police initially transported Hill to a nearby hospital for a possible overdose. He spent several hours there before being taken to jail.
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Hill’s father, Robert Stafford, raced to Los Angeles to support the “Old Town Road” rapper and later told London’s The Times that Hill had been dealing with “pressure” that he placed on himself as an artist and the “breadwinner” for multiple people.
“We all have breakdowns every now and then, but the difference is, yours get played out in the public eye,” when you’re a celebrity, Stafford told the outlet. “Hopefully, this is a turning point in his mental stability.”
From Rolling Stone US
