R. Kelly posted bond after pleading not guilty to sex abuse charges during an arraignment hearing on Monday. Kelly was arrested Friday and charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sex abuse of four females, including three minors under age 17. The 52-year-old Grammy winner entered the pleas through an attorney during an arraignment hearing at Leighton Criminal Court in Illinois.
According to PIX11, a sheriff’s office official said Monday that Kelly had posted bail and will be released from a Chicago jail within the hour.
Originally posted Monday, Feb 25, 2019 @ 15:56:
Kelly, who turned himself in to police officials on Friday, appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit after spending the weekend behind bars. He did not speak in court.
Kelly returned to the jail after the hearing. He is unable to put up 10% of his $1 million bond.
Prosecutors claim the R&B crooner sexually abused four victims, including three children between the ages of 13 and 16. But his lawyer, Steve Greenberg, maintains Kelly’s innocence, insisting the accusers are “lying”.
“He did not force anyone to have sex,” Greenberg told reporters over the weekend. “He’s a rock star. He doesn’t have to have non-consensual sex.”
Kelly’s legal team blamed the new charges on the recent Lifetime network documentary Surviving R. Kelly, which he said “has created collusion between and amongst female friends who have been converted to victims”. The documentary showcased decades-old sexual misconduct accusations against the star.
His next court date is scheduled for March 22.
Meanwhile, celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti, who represents two alleged Kelly victims, revealed he has a second video that reportedly shows the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer sexually assaulting a minor. Avenatti said he plans to turn the footage over to Cook County prosecutors.
Atlanta radio personality Ryan Cameron called on deep pocket club promoters in Atlanta to chip in cash for Kelly’s bond. Cameron put out the call for donations during his drive-time radio show on Majic 107.5 on Monday.
Photo by George McGinn/Getty Images
