United States (US) musician, R. Kelly, has surrendered to police in Chicago after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
The R&B singer who has faced charges of sexual misconduct for two decades, was indicted by a grand jury in Cook County, Illinois. He is expected to appear in court later on Saturday and will be formally charged on the 8th of March.
In the latest development, Cook County prosecutors reportedly received a 45-minute video tape said to show R. Kelly performing sex acts with a girl who talks about her age and her 14-year old genitalia.
The multi-award-winning musician known for hits like “I Believe I Can Fly” has consistently denied the charges with a statement from his lawyer indicating that he’d never knowingly engaged in sex with underage women or forced anyone to do anything.
Multiple women have accused the 52 year-old singer of physical, mental and sexual abuse. A documentary series released and aired earlier this year titled “Surviving R. Kelly” focused on Kelly’s history of sexual abuse and brought an international spotlight on his alleged predatory behaviour.
In 2002 he was indicted and later acquitted on 21 counts of child pornography over a video made in the late 1990s purportedly showing him engaged in sexual acts with a 13-year old.
See related tweets below:
#RKelly decided to turn himself in after all… he goes to court in the am! pic.twitter.com/M0C6rUoR8Q
— Gossipofthecity (@gossipoftheciti) February 23, 2019
After sitting in a black van outside the district 1 police station for several minutes, #RKelly emerges to walk inside, accompanied by his attorney, to surrender to authorities. pic.twitter.com/3bPagbOi28
— Dakarai Turner (@Dakarai_Turner) February 23, 2019
Dear journalists, preteen children cannot consent to being recorded on video having sex with adults! Its not a “sex-tape.” More appropriate words are “rape”, “molestation”, and “sexual assault.” Pick a word. Any word, other than “sex-tape”. #RKelly pic.twitter.com/Z476jwAnl8
— Kyle Sampson (@ItsKyleSampson) February 15, 2019
Me when I found out #Rkelly is going to jail. pic.twitter.com/zPbCL1rEkF
— Tealmooss (@Tealmooss) February 22, 2019
