FILE - In this June 6, 2019, file photo, singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to 11 additional sex-related felonies during a court hearing before Judge Lawrence Flood at Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. Kelly, who was arrested in Chicago on July 11, 2019 on a federal grand jury indictment listing 13 counts including sex crimes and obstruction of justice, was ordered held without bond on Tuesday, July 16. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool)
LAS VEGAS, NV – NOVEMBER 06: Recording artist R. Kelly performs onstage during the 2015 Soul Train Music Awards at the Orleans Arena on November 6, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/BET/Getty Images for BET)
Reporting by Dennis Byron & Gabrielle Tate
Singer R. Kelly is in a Chicago federal court for his first bond hearing stemming from last week’s arrest of sex-trafficking and obstruction of justice.
Prosecutors made it clear this afternoon that they oppose any bond for the singer claiming he’s a threat to the community, especially to minors.
“This risk of obstruction is real. This risk is ongoing. This risk is heightened by the defendant’s fame and power,” one assistant U.S. attorney told the judge, Harry Leinenweber. The singer “has a unique ability to influence and intimidate witnesses and victims, and that continues to this day.”
If found guilty, Kelly, 52, could receive a minimum of 15 years behind bars and a maximum sentence of 195 years in prison based on the Chicago charges alone. He has been incarcerated in Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center since agents arrested him near his home in Trump Tower early Thursday evening.
Prosecutors argued Tuesday that home confinement and electronic monitoring would not be sufficient, given the charges against the singer.
“The defendant can entice girls to his own doorstep, he doesn’t have to leave his home to do that,” one told the judge.
Meanwhile, R. Kelly’s lawyer, Steve Greenberg, fired back to defend his client, saying Kelly has already surrendered his passport, and noted the guy doesn’t like to fly … so he’s not a flight risk. Greenberg also says that, to his knowledge, Kelly didn’t miss any court dates in his 2008 trial. Speaking of that trial, Greenberg responded to allegations that the case was rigged, saying R. Kelly faced a jury of his peers, and not a bench trial.Greenberg also says that R. Kelly has voluntarily shown up to every court hearing in his current case, despite the fact the prosecution insists he’s been a flight risk. He hasn’t run, and Greenberg hit the point home by saying, “How could he flee? He has no money.” Greenberg does note that R. Kelly’s Trump Tower rent is paid up through December or January.On the allegation that R. Kelly is a threat to minors to this day, Greenberg says all but one of the allegations against Kelly dates back to the ’90s, and that “there’s no evidence that he’s a risk to minors at all at this point.” Greenberg also says there’s no evidence of witness tampering.One more argument from Greenberg here … he says the fact that R. Kelly can’t read or write would make it difficult to go over discovery with him in jail. He also says Kelly makes for a difficult prisoner because of his notoriety and implications that come with that.The judge seemed to side with prosecutors though, saying the child porn charge alone comes with a “presumption of detention.” He was ordered to be held in jail without bond.
Both Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary were seen leaving the courtroom in good spirits along with their attorney Gloria Schmidt.
