There have been serious allegations against R. Kelly for many years. Now it is clear that the singer has to be behind bars for 30 years. The former R&B star was found guilty on nine counts by a jury in September 2021.
Kelly, once considered one of the biggest names in R&B, has been convicted in connection with allegations that he exploited and abused minors. It was previously reported that Kelly's lawyers plan to appeal the verdict after the sentence has been handed down.
He leaves behind a "path of broken lives"
"Put simply, the defendant's crimes were calculated, methodical and part of a longstanding pattern of using his megastar platform and deep network to gain access to teenagers, many of whom were particularly vulnerable, and then exploiting it for personal gain and sexual gratification," prosecutors said, according to Billboard. There is also a risk that he will commit other crimes. The prosecutors had therefore asked for a prison sentence of more than 25 years.
Kelly's side had hoped for a prison sentence of less than ten years, as reported by CNN, among others. Judge Ann Donnelly said in New York when the sentence was announced that the singer had left "a path of broken lives". As a result, Donnelly took into account that the 55-year-old himself had a traumatic childhood. This could perhaps explain his behavior "at least in part", but is "certainly not an excuse". Already in August Kelly is to answer in another process in Chicago.
