CHICAGO, Ill. (R.
Kelly Fans Website) - R&B singer R.
Kelly pled not guilty to 21 counts of child pornography charges in Cook County, Ill., Criminal Court in
Chicago on Wednesday (June 26), according to a spokesperson for the Cook County District Attorney's Office.
The singer - real name Robert Kelly - was indicted in Chicago earlier this month. Kelly is accused of allegedly videotaping himself having sex with a 14-year-old female sometime over the last four years. The tape in question has circulated on the Internet and the black market since February, when the case broke.
Cook County State's Attorney Richard Devine has said the video was made in November 1997 or later and that the girl was born in September 1984.
If convicted, Kelly, who lives in the Chicago suburb Olympia Fields, could be sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $100,000.
The singer has denied he is the man on the tape, while defense attorney Edward Genson has said that the woman on the tape was not younger than 18 at the time the video was made. According to a law enforcement source, the parents of the girl claim it's not their daughter in the video.
Kelly's arrest followed an investigation in which about 50 witnesses were interviewed before determining the tape showed Kelly and an underage girl, according to Chicago police and Cook County prosecutors. FBI forensics experts analyzed the tape and concluded it was authentic, they said.
Kelly has been sued at least four times; three of the lawsuits involved allegations of underage sex. He has acknowledged settling two of those lawsuits, but his lawyers have said they will fight the third. The fourth was filed by a woman who claims he taped their sexual encounters without her knowledge.
The singer is known for hits ranging from the Grammy-winning inspirational anthem "I Believe I Can Fly" to sexually charged songs such as "Bump 'n' Grind," "Feelin' on Yo Booty" and "Your Body's Callin."'
A week ago, R. Kelly released a new song to Chicago radio station WGCI-FM. In the song, "Heaven, I Need A Hug," he knocks his detractors and says he hopes to regain his fans' support. Kelly has denied he had sex with anyone underage, and last week took to his case to radio via his new song, "Heaven, I Need a Hug".
Kelly is next due in court on Aug. 7.
