R Kelly forced to remain in jail because he can’t afford $100k bail for aggravated sexual abuse charges, lawyer reveals

February 25, 2019

The R&B star, 52, had hoped to be released over the weekend but his lawyer Steve Greenburg said that making the payment was complicated.

Greenburg told Fox News: "He has to rely on others acting on his behalf and it’s just not that easy – because Kelly’s in jail.”

Bail had been sent at $1million, requiring the I Believe I Can Fly singer to stump up 10 percent.

Under the terms of the release he is not permitted any contact with any females under the age of 18.

During the bail hearing in Chicago Greenberg argued that Kelly was not wealthy despite him being one of the best-selling music artists in the US with over 30million albums sold.

His lawyer said his financial problems had been caused by mismanagement, ban contracts and other issues.

Kelly handed himself in on Friday after prosecutors announced ten charges involving four women — three of them aged from 13 to 16 at the time.

If convicted he faces three to seven years on each count, said Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx.

He met one of the alleged victims during his 2008 child abuse trial, the judge heard.

She is said to have asked for an autograph and allegedly abused the underage girl while the trial was going on.

'SHELLSHOCKED'

The 2008 trial stemmed from a video that was said to show him having sex with an underage girl as young as 13. He was acquitted.

Yesterday his lawyer said all his accusers were lying after he was charged with ten counts of aggravated sexual abuse.

Mr Greenberg said Kelly was "extraordinarily disappointed and depressed" and added: "He is shellshocked by this."

The charges came days after campaigning lawyer Michael Avenatti uncovered video that allegedly shows R Kelly having sex with a girl who says on camera she is 14.

The 43-minute tape is said to feature a man "who appears to be R Kelly performing multiple sex acts with the girl", CNN reported.

She and the singer refer to her age ten times, according to reports, and she calls him "daddy".

The man allegedly asks the girl to urinate before he urinates on her, the broadcaster claims.

The prosecution released further details of the allegations against the singer on Saturday.

In one case cited, a 16-year-old who attended his child pornography trial in 2008 got his autograph after a court session.

He is later said to have invited her to his Chicago home where they had sex multiple times, according to the documents, which claimed he also slapped, chocked and spat on her.

Kelly has faced claims of sexual abuse for more than two decades.