Rapper Cleared Of Profanity Charges

A Norfolk, Va., judge has dropped a misdemeanor profanity charge against rapper Raymond "Boots" Riley after hearing that the state law cited in the charge was previously ruled unconstitutional.

Riley was issued a misdemeanor for using obscenity in public when he reportedly introduced the band Galactic using a variation of the F-word at the Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Festival in June.

However, city attorney Jack Cloud recently explained in court that the state law addressing the use of profane language in public was ruled unconstitutional by the Virginia Court of Appeals 19 years ago, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

"Why the state of Virginia hasn’t modified its statute I don’t know," Cloud said. "But that occasionally happens, and unfortunately it then lies in the code as a kind of time bomb that unsuspecting police officers sometimes caption."

On top of dismissing Riley’s charges, Cloud suggested the city of Norfolk amend its profanity ordinance, the paper said.

Following the festival incident, promoter Festevents made the decision to insert a no-profanity clause into all future contracts with bands and artists who play the city’s Town Point Park.