Palmetto resident Rikeem Lang, 31, is a free man after facing down a potential life sentence.
Assistant state attorney Rebecca Degel April 9 filed a notice of no prosecution, dropping three felony charges against Lang, including:
- A first-degree felony — punishable by life — for kidnapping with intent to commit or facilitate commission of a felony;
- A first-degree felony for sexual battery with enhanced circumstances;
- A third-degree felony for domestic battery by strangulation.
Holmes Beach police arrested Lang May 29, 2023. A woman found sleeping in the back seat of Lang’s vehicle said Lang had raped her there.
Lang was arrested and transported to the Manatee County jail. He remained there under $300,000 bond until April 15, when the charges were dropped.
Degel did not respond to an April 23 call from The Islander.