Judge sets $1 million bail for R Kelly in sexual assault case

Published Feb 23, 2019

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Chicago - Grammy-winning R&B singer R.

Kelly, who for years has faced allegations that he abused women

and underage girls, appeared in court in Chicago on Saturday to

face charges that he sexually assaulted four people, including

three teenagers.

Cook County Judge John Lyke set bail at $1 million for Kelly

after calling the allegations "disturbing" during a hearing

where Kelly appeared in a black hooded sweatshirt and listened,

head down, as prosecutors outlined the case against him.

The 52-year-old, whose real name is Robert Kelly, was

charged with a 10-count indictment on Friday, nearly two months

after the Lifetime television network aired a six-hour

documentary series "Surviving R. Kelly" in which multiple women

accused him of sexual misconduct and abuse.

The judge also ordered Kelly not to have contact with anyone

under the age of 18.

In this still image taken from video, R. Kelly is escorted by police in custody at the Chicago Police Department's Central District. Picture: Nader Issa/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

At a news conference on Friday, the Cook County state's

attorney, Kimberly Foxx, said three of the four victims were

under age 17 at the time of the abuse, which dated back as far

as 1998. She did not comment on the details of the charges,

which each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

His lawyer Steven Greenberg told reporters on Friday night

that prosecutors had "rushed to judgment" due to public

pressure.

"He's an innocent man," Greenberg said.

Lawyer Michael Avenatti, known for representing porn star

Stormy Daniels in her legal battle against President Donald

Trump, said at a separate news conference on Friday that he had

obtained a videotape from the late 1990s depicting Kelly

performing sexual acts with a 14-year-old girl.

Musician R Kelly leaves his Chicago studio Friday night on his way to surrender to police. Picture: Victor Hilitski/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

Avenatti, who said he represents two victims, two parents

and two whistleblowers from Kelly's inner circle, told reporters

he had given the tape to authorities.

More than a decade ago, Kelly was acquitted of child

pornography charges in Chicago. That case stemmed from a video

purportedly showing Kelly having sex with an underage girl; both

Kelly and the girl denied they were in the video.

Kelly, best known for his hit single "I Believe I Can Fly,"

has for years denied accusations of abuse.

In 1994, he married his 15-year-old protege, the singer

Aaliyah, a union that was annulled months later because of her

age. Aaliyah died in a plane crash in 2001.

R Kelly accuser Jerhonda Pace, left, walks into the Leighton Criminal Courthouse for R Kelly's first hearing since the R&B star was charged with sexually abusing four people, including three minors. Picture: Ashlee Rezin//Chicago Sun-Times via AP

"Surviving R. Kelly" touched off a new controversy when it

debuted in January, prompting his record label, Sony Music-owned

RCA, to end its relationship with the performer.

"We are proud that Lifetime was able to provide a platform

for survivors to be heard," Lifetime said in a statement on

Friday.

It was not clear if any of the alleged victims, who were not

named in the indictment, were the same as those in the

documentary.

Kelly, a three-time Grammy winner whose hits also include

"Bump N' Grind" and "Your Body's Callin," grew up in a Chicago

public housing project where, according to his autobiography, he

was sexually abused beginning at age 8.

Reuters

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