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R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to Multiple Charges of Alleged Sexual Abuse
The controversy continues. Singer R. Kelly’s attorney entered a not guilty plea on behalf of his client on February 25 as the performer faces multiple charges of sexual abuse in Chicago, the Associated Press reported. Kelly’s legal team entered the plea after the singer spent the weekend in Chicago’s 7,000-inmate jail following his arrest on Friday, February 22 on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four females — three of whom were reportedly minors.
Kelly remains in jail after a judge set his bond at $1 million. The charges are for crimes allegedly committed between 1998 and 2010 with minors between the ages of 13 and 16. Lawyer Gloria Allred, who is representing some of the alleged victims, said in a press release, “As I predicted yesterday, the wheels of justice are turning, and now R. Kelly is required to face allegations against him in the criminal justice system.”
According to the AP, the Grammy award-winning singer is required to pay 10 percent of his bond, and his attorney said Kelly’s “confidants” are attempting to pay $100,000 to get him released while he waits for his trial. If he is released, the 52-year-old performer would be required to have no contact with women younger than 18. Defense attorney Steve Greenberg told the Associated Press that Kelly could be released as early as Monday or Tuesday.
Kelly has faced several sex scandals over the years. He definitely raised some eyebrows when he married 15-year-old Aaliyah when he was 27. The singer has actually been indicted on 33 child pornography charges in Illinois and Florida over the years, and while most were dropped or dismissed, and eventually he was found not guilty, it still seems like a rather disturbing pattern.
The news comes just one month after Lifetime released Surviving R. Kelly, a documentary series detailing numerous accusations of Kelly’s predatory behavior and allegations of physical, mental and sexual abuse made against him. These new alleged sexual abuse charges are just the latest in a long, upsetting line of claims. While Kelly has now officially pleaded guilty to the newest charges, he will have to face the criminal justice system yet again, and the world will be watching to see what happens next with his case.
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