R. Kelly charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse

Singer R. Kelly has been charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Illinois with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault involving four victims from incidents stemming back as far back as 1998, according to prosecutors.

Kelly lawyer Steve Greenberg told the Associated Press that Kelly planned to turn himself in late Friday night, although the singer is both “shell-shocked” and “extraordinarily disappointed and depressed” about the charges. He also said that Kelly had offered to speak with prosecutors about “why the charges are baseless,” but they declined.

Multiple women have alleged that Kelly sexually abused them, many when they were underage. Much of the case against Kelly was summarized in the Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly that aired in January. Sony Music ended its relationship with him the same month, in the wake of the #MuteRKelly movement to stop Kelly’s music from being played and a petition to drop the star from his record label.

At a news conference Friday afternoon, Cook’s County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx gave brief details of each of the victims, of whom at least three were minors, and stated the incidents occurred between 1998 and 2010. She said Kelly is expected in bond court on Saturday.

Aggravated criminal sexual abuse is a Class 2 felony in Illinois. If convicted, Kelly faces a maximum of three to seven years in prison on each felony charge, Foxx said.

Attorney Michael Avenatti, who represents one of the women named in the indictment, held a news conference on Friday. He spoke about a video he said he submitted to Foxx’s office last week that allegedly shows Kelly engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl.

R. Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, has always denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer did not respond to Yahoo Entertainment’s request for comment.

Kelly was tried on child pornography charges in 2008, and a jury found him not guilty.

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