The federal appeals court in Chicago recently upheld disgraced singer R. Kelly’s 20-year sentence on child pornography and enticement charges, rejecting his appeal that the charges fell outside the statute of limitations. The court argued that the statute of limitations for sex crimes against children allows prosecution for the rest of the victims’ lives, affirming Kelly’s conviction. Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was sentenced last February following a conviction on six counts of child pornography and enticement, after being acquitted on seven counts of receiving child pornography. Despite the ruling, Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, expressed disappointment but stated that their fight is far from over, hinting at a possible appeal to the Supreme Court.
In addition to his legal troubles in Chicago, Kelly also faces a separate 30-year sentence from a New York case. The singer was convicted in New York in 2021 on eight counts, including racketeering and violating the Mann Act by trafficking women across state lines. A judge in Chicago ruled last year that 19 years of Kelly’s 20-year sentence can be served concurrently with his 30-year sentence in New York, resulting in a total of 31 years behind bars for the 57-year-old former singer. Despite his accolades and success in the music industry, Kelly has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse for nearly three decades, with controversies surrounding his marriage to Aaliyah when she was just 15, accusations of sexual abuse by his ex-wife Tiffany Hawkins, and a 2002 trial on child pornography charges for which he was acquitted.
Federal Judge Amy St. Eve highlighted Kelly’s use of a “complex scheme to keep victims quiet” in the recent ruling, stating that his crimes had finally caught up with him. Kelly’s career, which once saw him top the charts with hits like “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Bump n’ Grind,” has been overshadowed by these allegations. The Chicago trial stemmed from claims made by five victims who said they were abused by Kelly as minors in the 1990s, while the New York trial featured 45 witnesses, including 11 who testified to being sexually or physically abused by the singer. Despite these allegations and legal troubles, Kelly has consistently pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him. As his legal battles continue, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the once-prominent R&B star.
