R&B star R. Kelly was charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse Friday in Chicago, leaving him „shell-shocked,“ according to his attorney…
R&B star R. Kelly was charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse Friday in Chicago, leaving him „shell-shocked,“ according to his attorney. Each count carries 3-7 years in prison.
Kelly’s Chicago defense attorney, Steve Greenberg, said the singer would turn himself in Friday night. He told The Associated Press that his client is „extraordinarily disappointed and depressed“ about the charges.
Some of the charges stem from a newly discovered video found by attorney Michael Avenatti that allegedly shows Kelly having sex with a 14-year-old girl, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by USA TODAY.
A no-bail arrest warrant for Kelly was issued by a Chicago judge, The Associated Press reported. No-bail arrest warrants don’t necessarily mean the defendant won’t eventually be offered bail once appearing in court to answer the charges.
Kelly is to appear in court Saturday for a bond hearing, said Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx at a press conference in Chicago to announce the charges.
She said the indictment lists four victims, identified by initials, and multiple alleged criminal acts of sexual assault dating back to 1998. Court documents show three of the victims were between the ages of 13 and 17. At the time of the alleged crimes, she said, Kelly was at least five years older than the victims.
Avenatti held a press conference later in Chicago, confirming that the girl in the video he uncovered is one of the victims named in the indictment (he wouldn’t say which one), and that he represents another of the victims named in the indictment. He also said he has discovered another video and is in the process of recovering a third video and plans to turn them over to Foxx’s office as well.
„This marks a watershed moment in the 25 years of abuse by this predator known as R. Kelly,“ he declared.
In contrast to Foxx, who spoke for a few minutes at her press conference, Avenatti held forth for nearly 45 minutes, condemning Kelly as „disgusting“ and also Kelly’s alleged „enablers“ – more than 10 individuals he claimed helped Kelly commit sex crimes against young girls in multiple jurisdictions for nearly two decades.
„I want to send a message to the enablers – the agents, the managers, the attorneys and others, who turned a blind eye while teenage girls were sexually abused over two decades (by Kelly),“ he said. „I will not rest until each of you is brought to justice.
