Last week (May 30), prosecutors in Chicago filed 11 new counts in R. Kelly’s sexual assault and sexual abuse case, signifying the most serious charges he’s faced to date.
On Thursday (June 6), the embattled R&B singer appeared in court, pleading not guilty to the new string of charges. As reported by CNN, his attorney Steve Greenberg remains confident regarding the court finding his client innocent. After the morning hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse, he told reporters, “It’s the same evidence. We expect the same result.”
The 52-year-old, who adamantly denies all wrongdoing, remains free on bond and is slated to appear in court next on June 26. If convicted of the new charges, he could face up to 30 years in prison. His next court appearance will reportedly address all four of the current Cook County cases against him.
As previously reported, a grand jury indicted Kelly last month with 11 more charges pertaining to one of his four accusers, adding to the 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse he was charged with in February of this year. The latest charges center on the alleged abuse of a victim between the ages of 13-16 who has been identified as “J.P.” The crimes in question allegedly took place between May 2009 and January 2010.
While it remains unclear if the new charges stem from recent allegations or not, Kelly’s attorney has since commented otherwise.
“[Kelly] was NOT charged with a new case. He was recharged in an existing case, same alleged victim and time (a decade ago) It changes nothing,” Greenberg wrote on Twitter after the indictment. “These are the same conduct, just charged differently, same alleged victim, same time frame, same facts. We expect the same results.”
In related news, Kelly’s former manager has also been indicted in Georgia for allegedly threatening to kill the father of Joycelyn Savage, one of Kelly’s girlfriends. As reported by TMZ, James Mason was indicted on one felony count of making terroristic threats on Thursday and could face 1 to 10 years behind bars.
“Today’s indictment of Henry James Mason, former manager of R Kelly, further underscores the public accountability that victims and families are pressing on R Kelly and his team,” Gerald A. Griggs, the attorney for the Savage family, shared in a statement. “The Savage family will not be bullied or threatened in their quest to reunite with Joycelyn. Let this be a message to all associates of Robert Sylvester Kelly that the Savages are serious about justice and accountability.”