R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to 11 additional sex-related felonies during a court hearing in Chicago’s Cook County. Last month, Kelly was charged with aggravated sexual assault via force and threats, in addition to other counts.
According to Pitchfork, four of the 11 new charges against Kelly are for aggravated criminal sexual assault and are classified as Class X felonies. Each Class X charge carries a minimum of six years and a maximum of 30 years in prison if Kelly is found guilty.
Kelly was previously charged in February with aggravated sexual abuse involving four victims, including at least three between the ages of 13 and 17. He pleaded not guilty to those charges as well. One of the alleged underage victims in the new charges has been identified in court records only as “J.P.
The latest charges allege that Kelly “knowingly committed an act of sexual penetration upon J.P.,” which involved “the use of force or threat of force.” Court documents reportedly state, “Robert Kelly acted in such a manner as to threaten or endanger the life of J.P.” They also repeat an earlier allegation that “[Kelly] transmitted semen on J.P.’s body, for the purpose of Robert Kelly’s or J.P.’s sexual gratification or arousal.”
