Cee Lo Green cleared of rape, slapped with drug charge

Grammy- winning singer Cee Lo Green on Monday pleaded not guilty to giving a woman drugs at a Los Angeles restaurant in 2012.

The 38-year-old judge in reality-TV show “The Voice” was cleared of a sexual assault claim as prosecutors declined to file a rape count due to insufficient evidence.

According to E! News, Green, whose real name is Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, had allegedly slipped ecstasy to a 33-year-old female while the two were dining at a downtown LA restaurant.

In the incident sometime between July 13 and July 14, 2012, the two later went back to the woman's hotel.

Green appeared in court, charged with one felony count of furnishing a controlled substance, according to AP.

Wearing a dark coat and blue-tinted glasses, Green pleaded not guilty at the Foltz Criminal Justice Centre. He was seen sitting in the front row of the courtroom with his girlfriend while waiting for a bondsman to post his $30,000 bail.

The case is due back in court on Nov 20.

In a statement by his attorney Blair Berk, Green said he was pleased that the rape charge was rejected and will address the ecstasy count in court.

Berk said any sexual contact between her client and the woman was consensual.

“Mr. Green encouraged a full and complete investigation of those claims and he was confident once conducted, he would be cleared of having any wrongful intent,” Berk wrote.

If convicted, Green faces up to four years in state prison.