R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty To Sex Trafficking Charges As His 'Girlfriends' Look On

Disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to an array of sex trafficking charges in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday morning.

The Remix To Ignition singer was in NYC to plead before Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione on those charges, as well as racketeering and other allegations, alongside his lawyers, Douglas Anton and Steven Greenberg.

Also during the hearing, Tiscione officially denied bail to the crooner.

The courtroom was packed for the plea, and included supporters of the singer wearing ‘Free R. Kelly’ shirts. The Chicago native did not speak in court at all, other than to briefly say “yes” to the judge that he understood the charges against him.

Although he showed little emotion otherwise, according to Variety, the singer apparently “smiled ruefully and nodded briefly” at live-in girlfriends Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary, who were seated with two of the Kelly’s other “associates.” Interesting…

Travel Problems

Kelly, who was clad in blue and orange prison gear during the courtroom event, had been flown into NYC from Chicago late Thursday night by the Bureau of Prisons in order to attend this hearing.

There was a significant hiccup in his travel plans, though, when Anton revealed, for hours on Thursday night and into Friday morning, he had no idea where his client was being held.

Ahead of the hearing, Anton informed Tiscione of his client’s uncertain status. The lawyer petitioned the judge for more time to meet with Kelly on Friday morning ahead of the plea, writing in the court record late Thursday night:

“I have spent the hours that followed his landing on the phone with the [Bureau of Prisons] at both New York [Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan] and Brooklyn [Metropolitan Detention Center] trying to locate my client, but no one would provide that information to me, even recognizing I am his attorney, instead directing me to bop.gov to find out where he would be. Indeed, its 11:00pm now and the bop.gov website still lists this client as being located in Chicago MCC.”

By Friday morning, Kelly’s location status was updated on the website, and Anton did receive time to meet with the singer ahead of the hearing.

Travel issues aside, the not guilty plea and bail denial both pretty much went on as expected.

Kelly now faces a slew of federal charges in Brooklyn, in addition to the lineup of allegations waiting for him back in Chicago.

He may have escaped prison once before, when he was charged with 21 counts of child pornography back in 2002, but having to face two courts at once? We’re thinking his chances of ever flying free again are not looking good.

[Image via Instagram/R. Kelly]