Fresh from dealing with Jussie Smollett’s legal saga, Chicago may have to brace for another high-profile celebrity returning to court.
This time, embattled R&B singer R. Kelly was formally charged by Cook County, Illinois prosecutors today. The Charges stem from an alleged videotape sent to Chicago Police.
The tape, sent in by attorney Michael Avenatti, allegedly details R. Kelly allegedly engaged in s*xual acts with a 14-year-old girl. The final victim is alleged to be Jerhonda Pace.
According to The Chicago Sun Times, R. Kelly’s court case will be in early March.
R. Kelly’s attorney Steven Greenberg told the Sun-Times that he hasn’t been notified of the charges and has previously denied all charges of s*xual misconduct.
A warrant for R. Kelly’s arrest is currently being pursued by Cook County prosecutors.
UPDATE 1:
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx issued a press conference to detail the four counts of aggravated s*xual abuse against R.Kelly.
Three of the four counts involved minors under the age of 17. Each of the counts come from dates which range from 1998 through 2010.
My announcement of indictments charging R. Kelly. pic.twitter.com/J3uQA5wbZF
— Kim Foxx (@SAKimFoxx) February 22, 2019
Chicago Sun-Times reporters caught up with R. Kelly’s attorney Steven Greenberg outside of R. Kelly’s former studio.
Steven told reporters R. Kelly will turn himself in this weekend and bond out of Cook County Jail shortly afterwards.
“He’s going to go to bond court, and he’s gonna get out,” he said. “They’re making him a sacrificial lamb for their own sake and there’s no merit to any of this.”
Check out the Kim Foxx’s press conference, via CNN, below.
R. Kelly has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four victims, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced https://t.co/SqxMHmUqUE pic.twitter.com/k463r5WVFW
— CNN (@CNN) February 22, 2019
Lastly, shortly after news of the charges went viral, Jerhonda Pace posted the following to Twitter:
R. Kelly has been indicted. ?
— Jerhonda Pace (@Jerhonda4Pace) February 22, 2019
To everyone that called us liars and shamed us, keep that same energy. R. Kelly is going down, DOWN.
— Jerhonda Pace (@Jerhonda4Pace) February 22, 2019
UPDATE 3:
This evening, R. Kelly followed his word through his attorney and turned himself in to Chicago Police. Sun-Times cameras captured the embattled R&B singer being hauled away in handcuffs.
BREAKING NEWS: R. Kelly has turn himself into the District 1 police office. @Suntimes He’s seen in blue jacket in handcuffs. pic.twitter.com/hDmuBUZs3E
— Savannah Eadens (@SavannahEadens) February 23, 2019
