R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to 18 federal charges in both Illinois and New York in a Chicago courtroom yesterday. The singer – who’s facing a maximum prison sentence of 195 years in Chicago for alleged crimes against 10 different victims – has been in federal custody since Friday.
According to CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz, Kelly showed up to court in an orange jumpsuit and ankle shackles. His girlfriends, Azriel Clary and Joycelyn Savage were there, but he barely looked at them or his lawyers. When the judge asked him if he understood the indictment – which his lawyer had to read to him because he allegedly can’t read – he replied, “Yes, sir.”
Kelly will remain in federal custody because his lawyers couldn’t make a strong enough case for him to be allowed out on bail. Steve Greenberg said that they were disappointed and hoped to appeal the decision. His client is currently being kept in solitary confinement because it’s the safest place for him to be. Greenberg said that he has no TV or contact with other people and called it “largely inhumane.”
