R&B singer R. Kelly has entered a not guilty plea through his lawyer as the singer faces multiple charges of sexual abuse in Chicago.
Kelly, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, was arrested Friday on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four victims, three of whom were minors. Kelly entered the courtroom on Monday (local time) wearing an orange jail jumpsuit after spending the weekend in Chicago’s 7,000-inmate jail.
A judge on Saturday set the bond at US$1 million. The Grammy Award-winning singer is required to pay 10 percent of the bond, and his lawyer said Kelly’s confidants are trying to pay US$100,000 to get him released as he awaits trial.
Among the conditions of release is that Kelly has no contact with females younger than 18.
Defense lawyer Steve Greenberg told The Associated Press on Sunday that coordination of the bail payment is complicated. But he said Kelly could be released as early as Monday or Tuesday.
“He has to rely on others acting on his behalf,” Greenberg said. “And it’s just not that easy — because Kelly’s in jail.”
