R. Kelly Sued By Private Investigator

CHICAGO, Ill. (R. Kelly Fans Website) - Charles Freeman, who claims R. Kelly hired him to recover a "performance" tape, is suing the entertainer for $75,000, according to published reports.

Kelly, who is allegedly featured having sex with a 14-year-old girl on videotape, was charged last month with 21 counts of child pornography.

Freeman, who reportedly filed a suit against Kelly in Illinois' Jackson County Circuit Court, maintains that Kelly's private detective Jack Palladino agreed to compensate him $100,000, and as much as $40,000 in expenses to find and return a stolen videotape.

Freeman, who resides in Kansas City, Missouri, said he was only paid $65,000 for the job for which he was hired in August 2001.
Freeman said he was given two days to get the tape to Palladino, and agreed to pass a polygraph test afterwards to assure that he was not aware of any additional copies. Freeman also agreed to keep the matter confidential.

On August 7, Kelly is scheduled in Chicago's Cook County Criminal Courthouse to face the child pornography charges.