Kelly has already been sentenced to 30 years in jail
R Kelly has finally been found guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in a now-notorious video tape that surfaced in a 2008 trial.
It is the second time in a year that a jury has convicted the R&B singer of federal sex crimes.
In the latest case, which started on 15 August in Chicago, Kelly – full name Robert Sylvester Kelly – was found guilty of six out of 13 counts. The 55-year-old was convicted of three counts of producing child sex abuse images and three counts of enticing underage girls to engage in criminal sexual activity.
A jury took 10-hours to reach their verdict which comes after Kelly was held accountable in September for the first time over the sexual abuse claims that have haunted him for decades.
In June, a judge sentenced Kelly to 30 years jail, meaning he may well spend the rest of his life incarcerated.
Each count of producing child pornography, according to the US Attorney’s Office, carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years.
The maximum charge for enticement of a minor is 10 years, meaning all in all Kelly faces a sentence of 10 to 90 years behind bars. A sentencing date is yet to be set.
Many consider the latest convictions to be retribution for a 2008 child pornography trial in which Kelly walked free despite a video tape being presented to the court. The footage showed Kelly, who was around 30 at the time, sexually assaulting and urinating on a 14-year-old girl. Part of the recent trial focused on the tape thanks to the co-operation of the victim, who was absent fourteen years ago.
The rapper was acquitted of seven charges this week, including conspiring to obstruct justice – which accused of him of fixing his 2008 case – and receiving and conspiring to receive child sexual abuse images.
Kelly’s former business manager, Derrel McDavid, and former assistant, Milton Brown, were found not guilty of charges relating to allegations that they concealed evidence and attempted to silence witnesses in the previous trial.
In a statement following Wednesday’s verdict, US attorney John R. Lausch, Jr said: “The guilty verdicts finally hold Robert Kelly accountable for the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl, and they help right the wrongs that occurred in a prior prosecution in Cook County.
U.S. Attorney John Lausch speaking to reporters, says #RKelly faces 10 to 90 years in prison for the counts he was convicted on. He also says “obviously we are disappointed” in the acquittals on other counts. pic.twitter.com/Z54kXcCVmI
— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) September 14, 2022
“The damage Mr Kelly inflicted on his victims is immeasurable. I want to thank the victims for their strength, perseverance, and courage in coming forward to testify at trial.”
He added: “With regard to the not-guilty verdicts, we respect the jury’s decision. “While certain aspects of the charges and the trial made it difficult to obtain convictions for all of the charged conduct, it is clear that justice has been served by the guilty verdicts returned today.”
In September last year, the ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ singer was found guilty of one count of racketeering and eight counts of sex trafficking in a separate legal battle.
Related links:
- One of R Kelly’s alleged victims says they pair are now engaged and he’s ‘an incredible person’
- Why R Kelly got jailed for ten years more than Ghislaine Maxwell
- R. Kelly’s lawyer compares him to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr during sex abuse trial
- R. Kelly’s sales soared 500 per cent after guilty verdict
- Teen who killed her rapist must pay $150,000 to his family
- Brit woman ‘gang-raped by group of up to eight men’ at hotel on Greek island Rhodes
