A federal judge on Thursday rejected a call from prosecutors to keep R. Kelly behind bars until he is 100, instead telling the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer he would serve all but one of his 20 years on child sex convictions simultaneously with a previous racketeering sentence.
Handed down in a courtoom in Kelly91Ƶs hometown of Chicago, the sentence means Kelly could make it out of prison alive, when he is about 80. Prosecutors had asked Judge Harry Leinenweber to sentence him to 25 years 91Ƶ and to not let him begin serving those until after he completed the first 30-year sentence, imposed on him last year in New York.
91ƵThe nature of this offense is 91Ƶ horrific,91Ƶ Leinenweber said in explaining the 20-year sentence. He noted that Kelly91Ƶs sexual abuse victims would suffer from his crimes for the rest of their lives.
At the same time, he accepted defense arguments that Kelly might not even make it to 80, so handing him a consecutive lengthy sentence, rather than allowing him to serve all but one year of it simultaneously, didn91Ƶt make much sense.
91ƵHe has a life expectancy of not a hell of a lot more,91Ƶ the judge said. 91ƵHe is 56 years of age.91Ƶ
Kelly91Ƶs defense lawyer celebated the ruling as a victory, and some of the singer91Ƶs fans could be heard cheering outside the courtroom.
Kelly remained still, his eyes downcast, as Leinenweber explained what was at times a hard-to-follow sentence. He did seem to show some emotion when a representative read a statement written by 91ƵJane,91Ƶ one of his accusers and a key prosecution witness.
91ƵI was brainwashed by Robert and a sex slave,91Ƶ Jane91Ƶs statement said. 91ƵIt almost killed me.91Ƶ
Kelly did not make a statement in court prior to the sentencing decision, heeding the advice of his lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, to stay quiet while they appeal both his Chicago and New York convictions.
91ƵIt91Ƶs the right outcome,91Ƶ Bonjean said. 91ƵThe judge was reasonable. He, I think, took into account both sides and ultimately was fair.91Ƶ
The U.S. Attorney in Chicago, John Lausch, conceded that prosecutors were disappointed Kelly didn91Ƶt receive more consecutive prison time. But he added, 91ƵTwenty years is a significant sentence, and we are happy that that was imposed in this case.91Ƶ
The judge said at the outset of the hearing that he did not accept the government91Ƶs contention that Kelly used fear to woo underage girls for sex, a determination that was important in deciding whether to extend Kelly91Ƶs current term sigificantly.
91ƵThe (government91Ƶs) whole theory of grooming, was sort of the opposite of fear of bodily harm,91Ƶ the judge told the court. 91ƵIt was the fear of lost love, lost affections (from Kelly)91Ƶ. 91Ƶ It just doesn91Ƶt seem to me that it rises to the fear of bodily harm.91Ƶ
Two of Kelly91Ƶs accusers asked the judge to punish him harshly.
91ƵWhen your virginity is taken by a pedophile at 14 91Ƶ your life is never your own,91Ƶ Jane91Ƶs statement read.
Another accuser, who used the pseudonym 91ƵNia,91Ƶ addressed Kelly directly in court. Speaking forcefully as her voice quivered, Nia said Kelly would repeatedly point out her alleged faults while he abused her.
91ƵNow you are here 91Ƶ because there is something wrong with you,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵNo longer will you be able to harm children.91Ƶ
Jurors in Chicago convicted Kelly last year on six of 13 counts: three of producing child porn and three of enticement of minors for sex. Prosecutors did not get a conviction on the marquee charge: that Kelly and his then-business manager successfully rigged his state child pornography trial in 2008.
Kelly rose from poverty in Chicago to become one of the world91Ƶs biggest R&B stars. Known for his smash hit 91ƵI Believe I Can Fly91Ƶ and for sex-infused songs such as 91ƵBump n91Ƶ Grind,91Ƶ he sold millions of albums even after allegations about his abuse of girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s.
Prosecutors described Kelly as 91Ƶa serial sexual predator91Ƶ who used his fame and wealth to reel in, sexually abuse and then discard star-struck fans.
U.S. Assistant Attorney Jeannice Appenteng urged the judge to keep Kelly in prison 91Ƶfor the rest of his life.91Ƶ
Kelly91Ƶs abuse of children was especially appalling, she said Thursday, because he 91Ƶmemorialized91Ƶ his abuse by filming victims, including Jane. Appenteng told the court Kelly 91Ƶused Jane as a sex prop, a thing91Ƶ for producing pornographic videos.
But Bonjean has accused prosecutors of offering an 91Ƶembellished narrative91Ƶ to get the judge to join what she called the government91Ƶs 91Ƶbloodthirsty campaign to make Kelly a symbol of the #MeToo movement.91Ƶ
The singer has suffered enough, including financially, Bonjean said. She said his worth once approached $1 billion, but that he 91Ƶis now destitute.91Ƶ
Given his age and current 30-year sentence, Bonjean said sentencing Kelly to 25 more years would be 91Ƶoverkill.91Ƶ
91ƵIt is symbolic,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵWhy? Because it is R. Kelly.91Ƶ
Just before Kelly was taken back to detention Thursday, he requested that he not be placed on suicide watch because constant checks by guards 91Ƶis in and of itself cruel91Ƶ and 91Ƶcreates mental health issues,91Ƶ Bonjean said.
91ƵHe was expecting this,91Ƶ she told the judge. 91ƵMr. Kelly 91Ƶ is not suicidal.91Ƶ
Michael Tarm And Claire Savage, The Associated Press
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