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In a U.S. district court in his hometown of
Chicago, the 55-year-old multiplatinum musical artist faces
multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a child, enticement of
a female and possession of material containing child
pornography.
Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is among the
most prominent people convicted of sexual misbehavior during the
#MeToo movement against such conduct in recent years.
Kelly, his former business manager Derrel McDavid and associate
Milton “June” Brown also face obstruction of justice charges.
The three men are accused of trying to bribe and threaten
witnesses in the 2008 Illinois case in which he was found not
guilty on 14 counts of child pornography.
The three men have pleaded not guilty to the current federal
charges. The trial is expected to last four weeks.
In a motion filed on Sunday, Kelly's attorney Jennifer Bonjean
requested the exclusion of any prospective juror who watched the
Netflix documentary series "Surviving R. Kelly," which
chronicles the allegations against him.
At least one of Kelly's alleged victims is expected to testify
against him, according to court documents.
In June, Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison on his
conviction in a New York federal court on racketeering and
prostitution charges. The trial amplified accusations that had
dogged the singer of the Grammy-winning hit "I Believe I Can
Fly" for two decades.
Kelly also faces various state charges in Illinois and
Minnesota.
(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Frank
McGurty and Deepa Babington)
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