R. Kelly is now facing two new charges in Minnesota over incidents which allegedly occurred 18 years ago.
In a press conference on Monday, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced from Minneapolis the 52-year-old would be charged with two sex crime counts for the encounters which allegedly took place on July 11, 2001 with a juvenile.
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Per Freeman, the accuser alleges she was approached by the I Believe I Can Fly singer, who was signing autographs at a mall event and offered her $200 to dance with him in his hotel room.
He continued, explaining the victim claims having “sexual contact” but “no intercourse” took place after she was escorted to the hotel room by a member of Kelly’s staff. When asked why she took so long to come forward, Freeman explained the alleged victim was “embarrassed at the time.”
Freeman said during the conference:
“It is despicable that Mr. Kelly used his fame in order to prey on underaged girls. While there are more numerous charges in the Illinois and federal cases, we wanted to make sure that our victim here in Minneapolis also receives a measure of justice. We fully expect that at some future date, Mr. Kelly will have to account for his actions in Hennepin County.”
Kelly’s lawyer, Chicago-based attorney Steven Greenberg, reacted to the charges via Twitter:
Most recently, the disgraced R&B singer pled not guilty to an array of sex trafficking charges in federal court in Brooklyn on Friday morning.
Per Variety, the courtroom was packed for the plea, including supporters of the singer wearing ‘Free R. Kelly’ shirts, as well as live-in girlfriends Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary. During the court proceeding, the Chicago native did not speak, other than to say “yes” to the judge when asked if he understood the charges against him. Variety also reported the Ignition singer “smiled ruefully and nodded briefly” at Savage and Clary.
Currently, he is being held without bail in New York and it is unclear how the Minnesota DA office will proceed with charges.
[Image via CBS News/YouTube.]
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