CONTENT WARNING: The following article discusses sexual abuse
Repeatedly accused sexual offender, R. Kelly has been charged with an additional 11 sexual offences, three of which pertain to the alleged sexual abuse of minors.
Chicago Sun Times reports, Cook County prosecutors filed new sexual assault charges against R. Kelly on Thursday. The charges are significantly more serious than the previous four cases filed against the disgraced singer in February. The additional 11 include charges that have potential for sentences up to 30 years.
Court records will allege that the offence occurred in January of 2010 and it’s unclear whether the charges are tied to new allegations. Kelly’s lawyer says the new charges relate to an alleged victim as well as acts that formed the basis of one of the previous sex abuse cases that were filed in February.
The new charges against Kelly are: four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault by force, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, as well as three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a victim who was aged between 13 and 16 years-old.
R. Kelly is currently out on a $1 million bond. He’s due to appear in court for the new charges on 6th June.
Kelly’s lawyer, Steve Greenberg says they’ll see what the charges are and “proceed accordingly”.
“[Kelly] was NOT charged with a new case. He was recharged in an existing case, same alleged victim and time (a decade ago). It changes nothing,” he tweeted.
“These are the same conduct, just charged differently, same alleged victim, same time frame, same facts. We expect the same results.”
#RKelly These are the same conduct, just charged differently, same alleged victim, same time frame, same facts. We expect the same results
— Steve Greenberg (@SGcrimlaw) May 30, 2019
The four cases that were filed in February were lower level felony charges that held maximum sentences of seven years. The additional four counts of aggravated sexual assault are designated as ‘Class X’ felonies, meaning they carry the potential for up to 30 years in prison, should Kelly be convicted.
