Victim Recants Cartel Bo Kidnapping and Sexual Assault Claims as Prosecutors Allege Pressure

The kidnapping case against Cartel Bo took another turn in Houston this week, after the woman at the center of the allegations reportedly recanted claims that she had been held captive and sexually assaulted by the rapper. Prosecutors, however, say the change came only after pressure was applied.

According to a KPRC 2 (Click2Houston) report, published Monday (Aug. 3), the female survivor previously said she was locked in a closet for days and assaulted by Cartel Bo. She has now allegedly withdrawn those accusations, but prosecutors told the court they believe she was pushed to do so.

At a Houston hearing on Monday, prosecutors displayed a photo of cuts and bruises on the woman’s legs, saying the injuries matched repeated beatings during the time she was being held. Cartel Bo’s attorney, Samuel Milledge II, offered a different account, telling the court the marks were the result of rough sex and her work as a dancer.

Milledge also introduced a video statement in which the victim said she had been pressured by law enforcement to make a statement and forced to go with medics to the hospital. He additionally submitted a signed, notarized affidavit of non-prosecution from the woman.

"The allegations are very salacious, but allegations are just that," Milledge told reporters outside of the courtroom.

Prosecutors, before Monday’s appearance, said the jailed rapper had allegedly used another inmate’s credentials to reach the victim and pressure her into signing the non-prosecution affidavit and recording a video retracting her earlier claims.

As previously reported, Cartel Bo, whose real name is Warren Brown, was arrested on July 25 after being accused of kidnapping the mother of his three children and keeping her against her will in a house while sexually assaulting her over several days before she escaped.

According to court documents, Brown allegedly kidnapped the woman on July 21 and blocked her from leaving the home. Authorities say she eventually broke free from a secured closet while shackled. A neighbor reportedly found her, gave her food and water, and called police. Officers later discovered the woman at a Waffle House still wearing handcuffs before she was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Police say they recovered zip ties from the home where the alleged kidnapping occurred, along with a deadbolt installed on the closet door. Fast-food wrappers were also reportedly found inside the closet.

XXL has reached out to Cartel Bo’s attorney for comment following his arrest.

Meanwhile, Judge Kelli Johnson, who is presiding over the case, denied bond for Cartel Bo on Tuesday (Aug. 4).