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R Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to 11 New Felony Sexual Abuse Counts
Jun 07, 201908:16 A.M.
R & B music star R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to the 11 new counts of sex crimes he was charged in a Chicago courtroom.
Chicago prosecutors filed on Thursday, May 30, 2019, 11 new charges for serious sexual crimes against R & B superstar R. Kelly, but the singer's attorney said they are part of an existing case.
The 52-year-old artist, whose real name is Robert Kelly, already faces 10 counts of aggravated felonies filed in February for the alleged abuse of four women. Kelly denies the accusations and assures that the women are lying.
According to Kelly's lawyer, Steve Greenberg, the latest charges are related to one of the four accusations 10 years ago and are not part of a new case.
If convicted of the most serious charges, which include the abuse of a minor, the 52-year-old artist will face a mandatory sentence of between six and 30 years in prison for each one of the accusations.
The next appearance in court was scheduled for June 26. The singer is free on bail after paying 10% of a million dollar obligation, according to the requirements of Illinois.
The judge presiding over the case did not increase the bail price despite the seriousness of the charges, because Kelly has appeared before the court on all occasions when he was cited.
During the last two decades, the artist has been accused of different cases of inappropriate sexual behavior, especially towards underage girls.
Ten years ago he was acquitted in a trial for possession of child pornography and managed to maintain a stable public and his career on the stage.
His luck changed after the documentary series titled Surviving R. Kelly motivated prosecutors in Chicago to publicly seek potential victims of the artist.
The prosecution said they have DNA evidence and a video recording in which Kelly has sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl. Much of that evidence has not yet been shared with Kelly's defense, attorney Greenberg said, adding that he does not expect to go to trial until next year.
