Nicki Minaj‘s husband has been unsuccessful in his efforts to have his name wiped clean from New York’s Sex Offender Registry following the release of bombshell evidence.
According to RadarOnline, Kenneth “Zoo” Petty informed a federal court judge earlier this year that he was withdrawing his lawsuit against the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, despite a 2021 claim — in which he maintained he was never informed about a 2004 hearing which would have allotted him the opportunity to contest his status as a medium-risk sex offender.
Petty, who was incarcerated for separate crimes from 2003 to 2013, served four years in prison stemming from a first-degree attempted rape charge in 1995 at the age of 16. His accuser was a woman named Jennifer Hough. It was due to these circumstances Petty claimed he was at a disadvantage in opposing the registry requirement.
The government clapped back, arguing Petty’s claims were “meritless” and forked over a transcript of the hearing in which he was present.
“[Kenneth Petty] was present at the SORA hearing and represented by counsel, who stated that [Petty] did not object to his designation as a level 2 sex offender – the Court need not even reach this issue,” the government said. “[Petty] acknowledged his identity on the record, and his counsel stated that [Petty] did not contest his designation as a level 2 sex offender.”
Shortly after, Petty’s legal team filed documents informing the court they were throwing in the towel, arguing Nicki’s husband was much younger at the time and likely had a lapse of memory.
“We were just going according to his statement, what he’s telling us, that he wasn’t present. He still says that he wasn’t there and maybe someone is putting this together just to get him. I don’t think that he purposely lied to us. I just believe maybe he forgot,” Petty’s legal team told New York Daily News, at the time.
In 2021, Petty’s victim, Jennifer Hough, launched her own lawsuit against the couple accusing the them and their associates of harassment in an attempt to pressure her to recant her accusations — who allegedly went as far as offering her $500,000 in hush money, which she said she declined.
Recently, Hough dismissed all claims against Nicki Minaj. However, her lawsuit continues on against Petty.
The news of Petty’s claim dismissal comes on the heels of the pair’s neighbors launching a petition to have the rapper and her beau vacate their $19.5million Hidden Hills mansion due to safety concerns surrounding his sex offender status.
“Kenneth Petty is a level 3 sex offender, convicted for the attempted rape of a 16 year old girl, and has a high likelihood to reoffend,” the petition reads, noting Petty, who in July last year was arrested by United States Marshals for failing to register as a sex offender in the state of California resulting in three years probation, a year of home detention and a $55,000 fine, is still a risk. “He was also found guilty for killing a man. He is currently under house arrest for failing to register as a sex offender in California as law demands it.
“The Petty couple moving in would lead to appraisal value of our homes to go DOWN due to safety concerns. It would lead to children and women being a target.”
It continued: “We, the residents of Hidden Hills, must put our resident’s safety first. Don’t wait to receive a letter from the government saying a predator has moved in near you. DO NOT allow this dangerous sex offender to live near you, SHOW that you are against sex offenders in our Hidden Hills neighborhood!”
Originally, Kenneth Petty was on house arrest at the couple’s massive Calabasas home, which federal prosecutors weren’t happy about. They felt the gated “affluent” community, which includes a pool, state-of-the-art music studio, and luxurious backyard, wasn’t exactly a punishment. Instead, they wanted Kenneth Petty hit with 15 months in prison, five years supervised release, and the $55,000 in retribution.