R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison at the conclusion of his much-hyped trial in New York.
Last September, a jury found the 55-year-old singer guilty of all charges, including one count of extortion in connection with child sexual exploitation, kidnapping and forced labor, as well as eight counts of violating the Mann Act. , which prohibits the transportation of a person across state lines for unlawful sexual activity.
R. Kelly was arrested in 2019 and during his time in prison he has been busted, assaulted by an inmate, and last February came down with COVID-19.
At the same time, R. Kelly fired his legal team and hired attorney Jennifer Bonjean, who had overturned Bill Cosby's conviction. On June 14, Bonjean asked the judge to give R. Kelly the minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison.
"Our position is that in this case the mandatory minimum sentence is appropriate. There are significant mitigating factors, particularly in relation to his extremely traumatic childhood that shaped him as an adult," Bonjean said.
Meanwhile, prosecutors recommended that R. Kelly be sentenced to more than 25 years because of his "long and widespread history of luring children into sexual activities."
"He lured young girls and boys into his realm, often through empty or conditional promises of help developing their careers in the entertainment industry or simply by playing on the understandable desire of minors to meet and spend time with a popular celebrity," they noted. prosecutors in a 31-page document.
Before the sentencing, seven of R. Kelly's victims came to court to speak directly to their abuser.
"I represent every woman, boy, child, man that you have harmed by your deplorable, inexplicable actions and I hereby leave you to yourself, Robert Sylvester Kelly," "Angela," who also testified during the trial, told Kelly. trial.
"You used your fame and power to attract and train underage boys and girls for your own sexual gratification," he continued.
Another victim of R. Kelly's 'Unknown 2' said: 'I don't know if I'll ever be whole. What you did left a permanent stain on my life that I will never be able to wash away. I'm sure you never think about that. You're a thug, you're shameless, you're disgusting and you're selfish."
"I hope you go to jail for the rest of your life," he noted.
Asking the judge for leniency, R. Kelly's lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, said the singer spent his childhood in an "extremely chaotic" home, where he was also sexually abused. He also praised Kelly as a "musical genius".
"Mr. Kelly denies being that monster," Bonjean argued. However, R. Kelly declined to make a statement in his defense, citing pending court cases.
When asked by the judge to confirm that he did not wish to make any statement, Kelly said: "Yes, Mr. President, that is my wish."
R. Kelly will also stand trial in the state of Illinois on charges that he helped set up his 2008 child pornography trial, which resulted in his acquittal. He may also face charges in the state of Minnesota.
The ousted R&B singer is also expected to stand trial in Chicago, where he has been charged with 13 counts of child pornography, solicitation of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity and conspiracy to obstruct justice, with the latter charge tied to his previous child pornography trial. .
Although the trial in Chicago was scheduled to begin in April 2020, it was delayed first by the coronavirus pandemic and then by the discovery of a hidden cache of 100 electronic devices belonging to R. Kelly. The trial is now expected to begin on August 1.
