R. Kelly Is Facing Even More Charges of Sexual Assault — 11 Additional Counts, to Be Exact
Things aren’t looking good for rapper R. Kelly. In addition to the 10 counts from February, on Thursday, May 30, he is now facing with 11 additional charges, all felonies. According to documents obtained by In Touch, Cook County prosecutors have charged the “Ignition” singer with four counts of criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault by force, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against an alleged victim between the ages of 13 and 16. The alleged events referenced appear to have taken place in January 2010.
Steve Greenberg, the lawyer representing Kelly, 52, also seemingly confirmed that the claims were old. “We’ll see what the charges are, and we’ll proceed accordingly,” Greenberg told the Chicago Sun-Times on May 30 before the charges were officially filed. “I know this much: It’s old. They’re allegations from years ago.”
They may be old, but the statute of limitations hasn’t run up. According to the court documents, because the alleged victim was underage at the time, the court has 20 years from her 18th birthday to prosecute on the charge of aggravated criminal assault. The documents claim that Kelly “knowingly committed an act of sexual penetration” by performing various sex acts with the alleged victim “by the use of force or threat of force,” claiming that the rapper “acted in such a manner as to threaten or endanger the life” of the victim.
The previous charges that Kelly is facing involved four alleged victims, three of them underage, and the new charges may reflect the same group of victims. According to the Sun-Times, the initials of the alleged victim listed in the charging documents match those of another woman already involved with the case. In February, the rapper pleaded not guilty to the charges of aggravated criminal sexual assault. He also denied the accusations in a March interview with Gayle King.
“How stupid would I be to do that?” he said during the interview. “That’s stupid, guys! … Use your common sense,” he continued, speaking directly to the audience as he turned to face one of the cameras. “Y’all quit playing. Quit playing. I didn’t do this stuff. This is not me. I’m fighting for my f–king life!”
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