R. Kelly will be sentenced in Chicago federal court later today on federal charges of child pornography and enticing a minor. Moreover, this marks the 56-year-old's second sentence in the past year following his 30-year sentenced in New York. In that case, the court convicted him in June 2022 for racketeering and sex trafficking charges. In addition, the court also denied the singer's legal team's request for a new trial last week. With a minimum of a ten-year prison term looming over this next sentencing, many wonder how they will choose to make Kelly serve time.
Furthermore, prosecutors asked for a 25-year sentence to take effect after he finishes serving his 30 years. “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,” they expressed in a filing. “To this day, and even following the jury verdict against him, Kelly refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes.” Meanwhile, his defense maintained that he's already serving a "de facto life sentence" and should serve new time while he completes his 30-year sentence. Still, Kelly will likely be in prison for the majority of his remaining life.
R. Kelly's Uncertain Future Ahead Of Sentence
“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,” his legal team stated. “The overwhelming majority of Kelly’s criminal conduct was committed a quarter century ago.” While both sides made compelling arguments for the R&B star, the judge will ultimately decide how he serves time. Moreover, his federal trial in Chicago revolved around five women's testimonies that he abused them in the late 1990s. However, other prosecutors such as those in Cook County, Illinois dropped state sex-crime charges following his New York sentencing.
“I understand how hard it was for these victims to come forward and tell their stories. I applaud their courage and have the utmost respect for everyone who came forward,” Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx remarked. “While this may not be the result they were expecting, due to the sentences that Mr. Kelly is facing, we do feel that justice has been served.” Regardless of these developments, stick around on HNHH to see what will become of R. Kelly's fate.