CHICAGO (AP) — The singer R. Kelly was correctly sentenced to 20 years in prison on child sex convictions in Chicago, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.
Jurors in 2022 convicted the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, on three charges of producing child porn and three charges of enticement of minors for sex.
In his appeal, Kelly argued that Illinois’ former and shorter statute of limitations on child sex prosecutions should have applied to his Chicago case rather than current law permitting charges while an accuser is still alive.
He also argued that charges involving one accuser should have been tried separately from the charges tied to three other accusers due to video evidence that became a focal point of the Chicago trial.
State prosecutors have said the video showed Kelly abusing a girl. The accuser identified only as Jane testified for the first time that she was 14 when the video was taken.
Iran and the UN nuclear agency are still discussing how to implement a 2023 deal on inspections
China embraces AI boom, diverse application scenarios
Xi presents order to promote military officers to rank of general
China's Bronze Age art comes alive in exhibition in San Francisco
Ariana Grande shakes up the 2024 Met Gala with a surprise performance of her biggest hits
Biden promises quick provision of additional arms to Ukraine in call with Zelensky
US GDP growth slows to annual rate of 1.6% in Q1
Former Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton agrees to 1
Zhejiang overcomes Xinjiang to tie CBA playoff semis
Global tourism revenue to total $5.8 trillion this year: Report