R.R. Kelly’s 2019 Lifetime documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” dismissed by a New York State’s Attorney
In the wake of the #Metoo movement, R. Kelly was accused of wrongdoing in a Lifetime documentary called “Surviving R. Kelly.” He was indicted in Cook County, Illinois, on 10 counts of criminal sexual abuse and two federal indictments in July of 2019.
In his federal case in New York, the disgraced R&B singer was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he was convicted in 2021 on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
In some cases to video record them, as prosecutors at Kelly’s federal trial portrayed him, he used his fame and wealth to reel in star-struck fans to sexually abuse them.
His attorneys wrote that he would not reoffend as a geriatric if Kelly were to survive his 30-year sentence. The majority of Kelly’s criminal acts were committed a quarter century ago.
“I understand how hard it was for these victims to come forward and tell their stories. Kim Foxx of the Cook County State’s Attorney said in a news release she appreciated their courage and respect for everyone who came forward. “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.”
This may not be the result that they were expecting, but we believe justice has been served due to the sentencing of Mr. Kelly.
Cook County prosecutors had called for victims to come forward after the airing of “Surviving R. Kelly,” a Lifetime documentary series that chronicled allegations of abuse, predatory behavior and pedophilia against the singer.
“My office will direct our resources to find justice for other victims of sexual abuse who do not have the power of a documentary to bring their abusers to light,” Foxx added.
With Kelly likely to serve extensive sentences, her office needs to focus on other abuse cases. The case was dismissed by a judge on Tuesday.
Through her attorney, David Fish, Pace told NPR that she is disappointed and concerned about the potential effects that dropping the case could have on other abusers and victims:
While the Grammy Award-winner went to trial in 2008, it wasn’t until after the airing of Lifetime’s 2019 docu-series, “Surviving R. Kelly” — featuring testimonials by his accusers — that criminal investigations were kicked into high-gear, ending with federal and new state charges.
Over the course of decades, Chicago has been the center of a number of accusations and legal proceedings against the singer.
Surviving R. Kelly: New charges and a sentence sentence for 25 years in prison for sexual predators allegedly perpetrated against a young girl
A conviction wasn’t achieved because of those accusations. But in 2019, the Cook County State’s Attorney office filed a new set of charges, including counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Months later, the federal cases in Illinois and Brooklyn emerged.
The documentary Foxx was referring to is Surviving R. Kelly, the six-part series that aired on Lifetime in 2019, raising new claims of abuse and statutory rape against the singer. The series led to new charges against Kelly after more women spoke out.
CHICAGO — Federal prosecutors Thursday asked a judge to give singer R. Kelly 25 more years in prison for his child pornography and enticement convictions last year in Chicago, which would add to 30 years he recently began serving in a New York case.
“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,” prosecutors said in a filing. “To this day, and even following the jury verdict against him, Kelly refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes.”
She recommended a sentence of around 10 years, at the low end of the sentencing guidelines range, which she said could be served simultaneously with the New York sentence.
Bonjean argued that Kelly’s life had traumas from childhood to adulthood that justified a lighter sentence for him.
The judge said that 19 years of his sentence would be served at the same time as his other sentence. After that sentence is complete, one year would be served.
An attorney’s note on the trial of R Kelly: a young man whose finances were damaged in his early 1990s, and now he’s penniless
“While Kelly was not a child in the late 1990s, he also was not the middle-aged man he was at the time of his 2019 indictment,” she argued. Kelly was a man who was damaged in his 20s.
She said that Kelly has paid a heavy price from his legal troubles, including a financial one. He was once worth $1 billion, but now he’s penniless.
“I will forever be the girl that R Kelly peed on,” Jane said through the attorney, referencing the infamous sex tape video shown during his trial which showed Kelly urinating on a victim.
Kelly won three Grammys for his album “I believe I Can Fly”, which included hits “Bump n’ Grind” and “Ignition (Remix),” as well as “I Believe I Can Fly”. He has been nominated for many awards, including 26 in the past.
The advisory sentencing guidelines offer a range of 14 to 17.5 years in prison, according to the prosecution’s calculations, or 11.25 to 14 years in prison, according to the defense’s calculations.
She testified that she lied to the grand jury about having a sexual relationship with her husband.
Is Robert In Jail? The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Robert “has destroyed me” during a meeting with an attorney for Jane
I was afraid of exposing Robert. She said that she was afraid of her parents. “I also did not want that person to be me.”
An attorney for Jane read a statement that she said Robert “shattered her” during a court hearing, according to Chicago Sun-Times. I need some answers. And I need Robert in jail for as long as the law will allow.”