The federal appeals court in Chicago upheld the 2022 conviction of R&B singer R. Kelly, affirming a 20-year prison sentence for child sex convictions. The court rejected Kelly’s appeal, which argued for a shorter statute of limitations and separate trials for charges involving different accusers.
In its ruling, the three-judge panel from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals noted that jurors acquitted Kelly on some counts “even after viewing those abhorrent tapes,” referring to videos showing Kelly abusing a girl, identified as Jane, who testified she was 14 at the time.
Despite arguments from Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, the court found that U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber did not overreach in sentencing Kelly to 20 years, stating that the sentence was appropriate given the nature of Kelly’s crimes and the need for deterrence.
Bonjean plans to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the decision, stating, “We are disappointed in the ruling, but our fight is far from over.” She also argued in a separate appeal related to Kelly’s 2022 conviction in New York, claiming prosecutors improperly used a racketeering statute to go after Kelly.
R. Kelly’s Current State
Kelly, who is currently held in a medium-security prison in North Carolina, is not due to be released until December 2045. Bonjean has warned that if Kelly’s New York sentence stands, he “probably will die in prison,” and overturning the New York sentence could lead to a new sentencing hearing in Chicago.
The court’s decision affirms Kelly’s conviction on three charges of producing child porn. An additional three charges of enticement of minors for sex, stemming from incidents in Chicago. Kelly was born Robert Sylvester Kelly and is a Grammy Award-winning artist.
The ruling marks a significant legal victory for the prosecution, as Kelly’s case has drawn intense scrutiny and media attention. The decision reinforces the severity of Kelly’s crimes. It also sends a message about the consequences of sexual abuse and exploitation of minors.