R. Kelly Is Put Behind Bars

The singer is jailed on a $1M bond
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Feb 23, 2019 2:28 PM CST
R. Kelly Is in Jail
Musician R. Kelly leaves his Chicago studio Friday night, Feb. 22, 2019, on his way to surrender to police.   (Victor Hilitski/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

R. Kelly was ordered jailed on $1 million bond Saturday at his first court hearing since the R&B star was charged with sexually abusing four people, including three minors, in a case that seemed likely to produce another #MeToo trial involving a celebrity, the AP reports. The 52-year-old Grammy winner turned himself in late Friday and spent a night in jail before being taken to the courthouse. He stood with his hands behind his back and said to the judge, "How are you?" Kelly's attorney, Steve Greenberg, said his client is not a flight risk and told the judge, "Contrary to the song, Mr. Kelly doesn't like to fly." One of Kelly's best-known hits is "I Believe I Can Fly."

The bond equals $250,000 for each of the four people Kelly is charged with abusing. Kelly must post $100,000 to be released. Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. called the allegations "disturbing." The singer-songwriter looked down at the floor as judge spoke. Kelly's DNA was found in semen on shirts worn by two of the four accusers, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said. Kelly met one of the accusers when she was celebrating her 16th birthday party at a restaurant and another when he signed an autograph during his 2008 trial on pornography charges, Foxx said. Prosecutors said they have a video of another accuser that shows R. Kelly having sex with her when she was 14. Click for the full story.

(More R. Kelly stories.)

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