Update: R. Kelly’s 20-Year Sentence In Child Pornography Case Upheld In Appeals Court: ‘No Statute Of Limitations Saves Him’

Update: R. Kelly’s 20-Year Sentence In Child Pornography Case Upheld In Appeals Court: ‘No Statute Of Limitations Saves Him’

Update #3 (April 26, 2024): R. Kelly has experienced another loss in court. On Friday (April 26, 2024), news broke that the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld his conviction and subsequent 20-year sentence on child pornography and enticement of a minor charges in Chicago.

Before being sentenced to two decades, R. Kelly had already been sentenced to 30 years after being found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking charges in New York.

In its latest ruling, the appeals court referred to that case as the “elephant in the room,” and said it was kept “in mind” when handing down the 20-year sentence.

The ruling reads in part,

“In its words, “the nature of [Kelly’s] offense is horrible, horrific…” We will not second-guess that exercise of discretion.”

The appeals court pointed out that a jury convicted R. Kelly on some charges and found him not guilty on “several” others, “even after viewing those abhorrent tapes.”

“No statute of limitations saves him, and the resulting sentence was procedurally proper and — especially under these appalling circumstances — substantively fair.”

This means that even if RKelly wins his appeal of the New York racketeering case, he’ll still likely have to serve another 18 years behind bars for the Chicago conviction https://t.co/u7pkbUQtwV

— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) April 26, 2024

In response to the decision, R. Kelly’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean told TMZ,

 “Our fight is not over. We will see review from the USSC (SCOTUS) on the statute of limitations questions at a minimum. And he has habeas remedies at his disposal. And if we win in NY. He will be entitled to resentencing in Illinois. So this story is far from over.” 

Update #2: (Mar. 9, 2023): R. Kelly’s legal team is continuing to fight for his freedom.

As previously reported, last month R. Kelly was sentenced to 20 years in prison in a Chicago federal courtroom on charges of child pornography and enticement of a minor. The 2-decade sentencing came after he was previously given a 30-year prison term for his 2021 conviction on racketeering and sex trafficking charges in a New York federal court.

However, it’s important to note that it was ruled 19 years of the 20-year prison sentence would be served concurrently (at the same time) as his other sentence. And one year would be served consecutively.

Meaning, in total, R. Kelly is looking at 31 years in federal prison.

Despite the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer avoiding being behind bars for 5 decades, his legal team has filed an appeal today (Mar. 9) of his 20-year sentence to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

Update #1: (Feb. 23, 2023): New details have surfaced surrounding R. Kelly’s federal child-offense case.

R. Kelly was sentenced today (Feb. 23) to 20 years in prison in a Chicago federal courtroom on charges of child pornography and enticement of a minor.

As you may recall, the “I’m A Flirt” singer is already serving a 30-year prison term for his 2021 conviction on racketeering and sex trafficking charges in a New York federal court.

Thankfully for R. Kelly, US District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber reportedly said in court that 19 years of the 20-year prison sentence would be served concurrently (at the same time) as his other sentence. However, one year would be served consecutively — after that sentence is complete. This means that R. Kelly was able to avoid being behind bars for 5 decades and instead faces 31 years in federal prison.

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Original story: (Feb. 23, 2023): R&B songster R. Kelly will learn the fate of his future behind bars on Thursday (Feb. 23).

According to reports, R. Kelly is finally scheduled to receive his sentencing for the slew of charges in his federal child-offense case.

R. Kelly

In September 2022, 56-year-old R. Kelly was convicted on three counts of production of child pornography and three counts of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Earlier this month, Kelly’s attorneys filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that one of the prosecution’s witnesses had lied under oath. However, just last week, the “It Seems Like You Ready” crooner’s request was denied.

At this moment, Kelly is serving a 30-year term for his 2021 indictment of racketeering and sex trafficking. In addition to that, he’s now up against the officials’ petition for the judge to slap 25 years onto his (already) extensive prison time, which would be ordered to complete after the duration of his current incarceration.

Although Kelly’s minimum is 10 years, prosecutors (seemingly) indicated that his lack of accountability called for more severe punishment. In recent court documents, they wrote:

“Robert Kelly is a serial sexual predator who, over the course of many years, specifically targeted young girls and went to great lengths to conceal his abuse of Jane and other minor victims. To this day, and even following the jury verdict against him, Kelly refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes.”

R. Kelly

However, Kelly’s defense expressed that whatever the outcome of their client’s case is, it should be implemented in his present jail run.

When speaking of the “unlikeliness” that Kelly, who (if given the additional 25 years) wouldn’t see the light of day until his 80s, suggested that he would be no threat to society at that age.

They documented:

“In the unlikely event that Kelly was to survive his 30-year sentence, there is no reason to believe he would reoffend as a geriatric in his mid-80s. The overwhelming majority of Kelly’s criminal conduct was committed a quarter century ago.”

Once at the pinnacle of the music industry, a uber-successful Kelly fell from his rise to stardom after a number of sexual abuse accusations came to the forefront. Allegedly, over the span of decades, the Chicago native had been intimately inappropriate with various underage girls. He notoriously came under fire in the early 2000s, after a leaked home video of Kelly and a 14-year-old female hit the media.

What are your thoughts on this situation? Let us know in the comments below!

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