R.Kelly indicted on 10 Counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse #FREERKELLY (Live)
Was R. Kelly arrested?
As of February 22, a judge in Illinois signed a no-bond arrest warrant for Kelly. He’s charged with ten separate counts of felony sexual abuse, which each carry sentences of three to seven years in prison. If he does not turn himself in to authorities in Illinois, he will be arrested.
The significance of the no-bond warrant is that he cannot be released from jail until he pays the amount of bond assigned by a judge (he will likely be in front of a judge by tomorrow). While it can be assumed that Kelly’s attorneys will argue for immediate release on bond, even if bond is granted, there will be guidelines attached to the release, like not being able to leave the jurisdiction and/or relinquishing his passport.
Why was the warrant issued now?
According to TMZ, the women at the heart of the indictment range in age from 13 to 16, and are among at least a dozen women who reportedly gave their statements about Kelly’s alleged sexual abuse to a grand jury in Illinois. For the indictment to come down, the grand jury needed to decide there was enough evidence for prosecutors to pursue a case.
Kelly’s most recent problems have been brewing for quite some time. BuzzFeed broke a story in 2017 alleging that he was operating an abusive sex cult in both Chicago and Atlanta. The story, which centered on a woman who went simply by “J.,” prompted prosecutors in both states to begin looking into rumors, the most shocking of which suggests the singer may have, or is still holding, several women captive against their will.
