R. Kelly hit with more serious sex crime charges in new court case - Chicago Sun-Times

Cook County prosecutors on Thursday filed a new series of sex assault charges against R. Kelly, adding 11 felony counts against the singer, including charges that carry a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, the most serious he has faced yet.

The alleged offense happened in January 2010, according to the charges. The charging document does not contain many details, but the new case may not involve a new victim, since the initials of the victim in the latest case are the same as one of victims in the cases previously charged.

The new case charges Kelly with four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault by force, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a victim between the ages of 13 to 16.

Kelly, who is free on $1 million bond following his indictment in February in sex abuse cases involving four alleged victims— including three underage girls— is due to appear in court on the new case June 6.

The state’s attorney’s office did not respond to requests for comment. Kelly’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, said Thursday he had received word of new charges from prosecutors but had not seen any filings in the case.

“We’ll see what the charges are, and we’ll proceed accordingly,” Greenberg said. “I know this much: it’s old. They’re allegations from years ago.”

The four aggravated criminal sexual assault counts are all designated as Class X felonies that carry a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison for Kelly if he is convicted. The four cases filed in February were charged as lower-level felonies that had maximum sentences of up to seven years.

More details to come.

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