R. Kelly.Photo: Jason Wambsgans-Pool/Getty
A jury found disgraced R&B singer/songwriter and convicted sex offenderR. Kellyguilty on six counts, including child pornography charges, on Wednesday in a Chicago courtroom.
However, he was acquitted of seven additional counts: one child pornography count, one count of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, as well as four conspiracy counts,WGN9reports.
Kelly, 55, stood accused of 13 counts of producing and receiving child pornography, enticing minors to engage in criminal sexual activity, and conspiracy to obstruct justice, theChicago Tribunereports.
In June, Kelly wassentenced to 30 years in federal prison, after a jury found him guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking, during a six-week trial in 2021 that included testimony from 45 witnesses in a Brooklyn, N.Y., courtroom.
Charged alongside Kelly in the Chicago case were two of his former associates: Derrel McDavid and Milton Brown, after the pair allegedly tried to buy back Kelly’s sex tapes and conceal sexual abuse, per theTribune.
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Both McDavid and Brown were acquitted of the charges against them.
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According to theAssociated Press, Kelly’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean called for a mistrial twice Monday, arguing that her client was denied a fair trial.
“The presumption of innocence has been abolished for him,” Bonjean said, per the AP.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber denied her request.
As the trial continued Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Pozolo addressed the courtroom in her closing arguments, and called out Kelly’s history of sex abuse.
“Robert Kelly abused many girls over many years,” Pozolo said, according to the outlet. “He committed horrible crimes against children. … All these years later, the hidden side of Robert Kelly has come out.”
“What R. Kelly wanted was to have sex with young girls,” U.S. District Attorney Jeannice Appenteng said, according to theTribune. “And what the people around him wanted … they wanted to help their boss, including helping him get away with it.”
A sentencing date for Kelly has not been set at this time.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
source: people.com
