Rapper R. Kelly has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four victims. At least three victims are minors and an Illinois judge has approved a no-bail arrest warrant for the singer, The Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Prosecutors allege the abuse occurred from 1998 to 2010, records say. The warrant was approved by Cook County Judge Dennis Porter.
And another well-known media figure is also getting involved in this case.
Michael Avenatti, most notably the attorney for Stormy Daniels, said he recently provided a videotape showing R. Kelly having sex with a 14-year-old girl to the Cook County state attorney’s office. While it’s not clear if the tape is related to the charges, he praised prosecutors for filing charges.
After 25 years of serial sexual abuse and assault of underage girls, the day of reckoning for R Kelly has arrived.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) February 22, 2019
Kelly’s arrest comes after several women came forward alleging a variety of rape and sexual abuse charges, Mediaite reports.
This is the second time the singer is facing sexual abuse charges from Cook County. In the first instance, he was acquitted after facing accusations that he filmed himself having sex with his 13-year-old goddaughter.
Kelly’s attorney, Steven Greenberg said Kelly denies the accusations and expressed confidence that his client will be cleared of the charges.
Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx held a brief press conference Friday. She didn’t answer questions but did discuss the nature of the charges. Foxx, featured in the documentary Surviving R. Kelly, had called for his accusers to come forward. In the documentary, she cited allegations that were “deeply, deeply disturbing, The Chicago Tribune reports.
Airing on the Lifetime channel, the six-hour document alleges that Kelly brain-washed young women into a “sex cult” and forced them to stay with him against their will, keeping them under his control. Foxx said the young women’s stories left her feeling “sickened.”
When a Sun-Times reporter told one of the women about the charges she had this to say:
“Awesome. Thank God. That’s a blessing. I’m so happy.”
Other media outlets have noted Kelly is also under federal investigation. The document below lists the official charges. And the following video offers more information.
R. Kelly indictments by on Scribd
Featured image courtesy of the video above