R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty, Denied Bond Release
R. Kelly is being held without bond following federal court in Chicago today for an arraignment on sex crime charges involving children and alleged obstruction of justice.
The singer will be taken to New York while still in custody to face a separate indictment alleging he sexually abused underage girls across the country.
This is the third time this year Kelly has been thrown behind bars. This latest case came down last Friday, after he was indicted on federal charges with roots in New York.
Kelly was slapped with federal racketeering charges last week for allegedly paying thousands of dollars to recover child sex tapes that went missing. He was also hit with federal child pornography and obstruction charges.
“They charged him in New York with enticing people and encouraging people to have sex with him. I don’t think people accidentally have sex. So I’m not really sure what the criminal activity is there,” said Steve Greenberg, Kelly’s attorney.
Attorney Michael Avenatti, who is representing some of Kelly’s alleged victims, said Tuesday that Kelly paid the victim from his 2008 child porn trial more than $2 million to change her story. Kelly ended up being acquitted.
While mounting the argument that Kelly should not be released from custody, a federal prosecutor called the singer a "danger to the community, especially to minor girls." The judge agreed and R. Kelly will be held without bond.