R. Kelly Gets Additional Year In Prison for Sex Offenses

A federal judge in Chicago added another year to singer R. Kelly’s prison sentence for child pornography and enticement of minors.

He will serve 19 years alongside his New York prison sentence lasting 30 years plus the recently added year.

In total, the former music artist will serve 31 years behind bars. As a result, he would be free at when he’s 80-years-old.

More details about R. Kelly

BREAKING: R. Kelly to serve one year in prison for Chicago convictions of child pornography and enticement after completing his 30-year racketeering sentence. https://t.co/Luk9hiFIGV

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 23, 2023

He received convictions in September on three counts of producing child pornography and three counts of enticing minors to engage in sexual activity.

US Attorney Northern District of Illinois, John Lausch said “A 20-year sentence in this case is impactful.”

“That ensures that there will be a significant amount of time that R. Kelly will not be out on the streets to do additional harm to others,” Lausch added.

Lausch also said, “Are we disappointed that we didn’t get more of a consecutive sentence? Absolutely.”

Prosecutors recommended R. Kelly should serve 25 more years after his New York sentence. They said the artist is a sexual predator who used his fame and wealth to abuse children.

Worse, he allegedly has show no remorse. Consequently, US Assistant Attorney Jeannice Appenteng urged the judge to give a longer sentence.

Consequently, the total sentences would keep Kelly in prison “for the rest of his life.” 

Appenteng justified her appeal by saying his abuse was worse because he “memorialized” his abuse by filming victims.

She told the court R. Kelly used them as “a sex prop, a thing” for producing explicit videos.  On the other hand, his lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, accused prosecutors of offering an “embellished narrative.”

Bonjean claimed the judge was joining the government’s “bloodthirsty campaign to make Kelly  a symbol of the #MeToo movement.”

The #MeToo movement advocates for the protection of women against sexual abuse and violence. 

She said R. Kelly has suffered enough. His former net worth was a billion dollars, but he “is now destitute.”

Attorney Bonjean said he will be lucky to survive his 30-year New York sentence. Adding another 25 years “is overkill, it is symbolic.”