R&B celebrity R. Kelly’s musical accomplishments have lengthy been shadowed by allegations that he sexually abused ladies and youngsters. Now the singer has been discovered responsible in his hometown of Chicago on youngster pornography costs, however acquitted of a conspiracy to hinder justice cost accusing him fixing his state youngster pornography trial in 2008.
The decision comes after he was sentenced in June in New York to 3 a long time behind bars on federal intercourse trafficking costs. Whereas Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, has vehemently denied the allegations, his accusers testified that he subjected them to perverse and sadistic whims after they had been underage.
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R. Kelly discovered responsible of kid pornography, intercourse abuse in Chicago trial
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R. Kelly discovered responsible of kid pornography, intercourse abuse in Chicago trial
A timeline of Kelly’s life by his rise and fall as an R&B artist:
1990: R. Kelly’s R&B group MGM wins the $100,000 grand prize on the syndicated tv expertise present “Large Break,” hosted by Natalie Cole. Due to cash disagreements, that’s the final time the group performs collectively.
January 1992: R. Kelly & Public Announcement debuts “Born Into The ’90s.” Launched a yr later, the album goes platinum.
November 1993: His album “12 Play” is launched and sells greater than 5 million copies. Hit singles embody “Intercourse Me” and “Bump N’ Grind,” which turns into the longest-running No. 1 R&B music in additional than 30 years.
Aug. 31, 1994: At age 27, R. Kelly marries 15-year-old R&B singer Aaliyah D. Haughton in a secret ceremony organized by Kelly at a Chicago lodge. The wedding is annulled months later due to Aaliyah’s age. (Aaliyah died in a airplane crash seven years later, at age 22.)
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November 1996: R. Kelly releases his third album, “R. Kelly.” A month later, he incorporates Rockland Information. His music “I Consider I Can Fly,” from the “House Jam” soundtrack, peaks at No. 2 on the Billboard pop chart. The identical yr, he marries 22-year-old Andrea Lee, a dancer from his touring troupe. The couple has three youngsters: Joanne, Jaya and Robert Jr.
February 1998: Kelly wins three Grammys for “I Consider I Can Fly.”
August 2001: Tracy Sampson recordsdata a lawsuit in opposition to Kelly, alleging their intercourse was unlawful underneath Illinois legislation as a result of he was in “a place of authority” over her. The case was settled out of courtroom for an undisclosed quantity.
Feb. 8, 2002: The Chicago Solar-Instances stories that it acquired a videotape allegedly exhibiting Kelly having intercourse with a minor. The paper stories that Chicago police started investigating allegations about Kelly and the identical lady three years earlier. On the time, the lady and her mother and father deny she was having intercourse with Kelly.
The day the information breaks, Kelly performs on the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake Metropolis.
June 5, 2002: Kelly is indicted in Chicago on youngster pornography costs associated to the intercourse tape. He pleads not responsible and is launched on $750,000 bail.
Could 9, 2008: Kelly’s youngster pornography trial begins.
June 13, 2008: Kelly is acquitted on all counts after lower than a day of deliberations.
June 27, 2012: Kelly publishes his autobiography, “Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me,” specializing in his inventive and household life fairly than his authorized troubles.
Sept. 29, 2012: Kelly is nominated for 2 Soul Prepare Awards, making him essentially the most nominated act ever on the awards present.
July 17, 2017: BuzzFeed stories on mother and father’ claims that Kelly brainwashed their daughters and was preserving them in an abusive “cult.” One girl says she was with Kelly willingly. Activists launch the #MuteRKelly motion, calling for boycotts of his music.
Could 2018: Spotify cuts R. Kelly’s music from its playlists, citing its coverage on hateful conduct. Shortly after, Apple and Pandora additionally cease selling his music. Kelly’s workforce pushes again, noting different artists on Spotify have been accused or convicted of crimes.
Jan. 3, 2019: Lifetime airs the documentary “Surviving R. Kelly,” which revisits previous allegations and brings new ones into the highlight. The BBC’s “R Kelly: Intercourse, Ladies & Videotapes,” launched the earlier yr, alleges the singer held ladies in opposition to their will.
Jan. 21, 2019: A number of media shops report that Kelly and his label, Sony subsidiary RCA Information, half methods. Kelly continues to disclaim all abuse allegations.
Feb. 22, 2019: Kelly is arrested and charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse.
Feb. 25, 2019: Kelly’s legal professional enters not responsible pleas on the singer’s behalf. Hours later, Kelly posts bail and is launched from jail in Chicago.
March 6, 2019: CBS airs an interview wherein Kelly vehemently denies the sexual abuse costs. Prepare dinner County authorities take Kelly into custody after he tells a choose he can’t pay $161,000 in youngster assist.
Could 30, 2019: Kelly is charged with 11 new sex-related counts in Chicago. They contain one of many ladies who accuses him of sexually abusing her when she was underage.
July 11, 2019: Kelly is indicted by a federal grand jury in Chicago on costs together with youngster pornography, enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice. A separate indictment filed within the Japanese District of New York contains costs of racketeering, kidnapping, pressured labor and the sexual exploitation of a kid. He’s once more arrested in Chicago.
July 16, 2019: A federal choose orders Kelly held with out bond after a prosecutor warns he poses an excessive hazard to younger women.
Aug. 5, 2019: Kelly is charged in Minnesota with prostitution and solicitation associated to an allegation that he invited a 17-year-old lady to his lodge room in 2001 and paid her $200 to bounce bare with him.
March 5, 2020: Kelly pleads not responsible in Chicago to an up to date federal indictment that features youngster pornography costs and allegations involving a brand new accuser.
Learn extra:
R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years in jail in intercourse trafficking case
Aug. 12, 2020: Federal prosecutors announce costs in opposition to three males accused of threatening and intimidating ladies who’ve accused Kelly of abuse, together with one man suspected of setting fireplace to a automobile in Florida.
Aug. 18, 2021: Opening statements start in Kelly’s federal trial in New York.
Sept. 27, 2021: A jury finds Kelly responsible of intercourse trafficking and violating the Mann Act, which makes it unlawful to take anybody throughout state strains “for any immoral goal.”
June 29, 2022: Kelly is sentenced to 30 years in jail in New York.
Aug. 15, 2022: Jury choice begins for Kelly in federal courtroom in Chicago on youngster pornography, enticement and obstruction of justice costs.
Sept. 14, 2022: A federal jury convicts Kelly of three youngster pornography counts and three counts of kid enticement. However the jury acquits him on a fourth pornography rely, a conspiracy to hinder justice cost associated to his 2008 trial, three counts of conspiring to obtain youngster pornography and two extra enticement costs.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
