A federal judge ordered Boosie Badazz to not contact his fiancée Rajel Nelson for at least 60 more days. Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo refused to modify the conditions of his pretrial release in a gun case at a hearing in San Diego on Friday (January 12).
According to Meghann Cuniff’s Legal Affairs and Trial newsletter, Judge Bencivengo initially appeared open to lifting restrictions on Boosie’s ability to communicate with his fiancée.
“This seems like a fairly serious curtailment of his personal rights,” the judge said. “And I’m not quite sure what the basis of it is other than the sort of vague assertion that she may have evidence.”
Prosecutors objected as Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Wheat privately shared information with the judge. The private discussion was enough to convince Judge Bencivengo to reject Boosie’s bid to lift the restrictions.
Last year, federal agents arrested Boosie after state prosecutors dropped a weapons case against him. The feds charged him with being a felon in possession of a gun.
Boosie, whose real name is Torence Hatch, was released on bond in June 2023. The court ordered him to not communicate with any witnesses in the case. Boosie requested a modification of his pretrial release terms in a filing on January 11.
“Although Mr. Hatch’s fiancée, Rajel Nelson, was not present in California during his arrest for being a felon in possession of a firearm, the government notified the Court that it believed she may be a witness and did not want Mr. Hatch to communicate with her, even though they lived together at the time and were engaged to be married,” his lawyers explained. “Mr. Hatch objected. Over six months have elapsed since Mr. Hatch was released, and he is still not permitted to communicate with his fiancée. He respectfully requests that the Court modify the conditions of his release so he may communicate with her.”
Judge Bencivengo did not grant Boosie’s request even though he was scheduled to get married in April. But the judge said he could “certainly ask for the court to allow communication” if a “singular event” is planned.
