R. Kelly’s Chicago Child Pornography Trial Begins in August

Now that R. Kelly’s New York trial for sex trafficking has wrapped up, he’s now headed back to court in Chicago on child pornography charges. On Wednesday, a judge set his trial date for August 1.

Judge Harry Leinenweber scheduled the embattled R&B singer’s trial around his attorneys’ schedule. According to them, they will be tied up in court through July on other cases.

Kelly is facing charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice. He reportedly filmed sexual encounters with three women while they were still underage. The obstruction charges stem from him subsequently bribing people with cash and gifts to make sure copies of the sex tapes did not get out. 

Kelly’s attorneys estimated that the trial would last about three to four weeks. Kelly, who is jailed in New York, listened in on the hearing via conference call, but he did not speak.

The singer is facing 20 years in jail for the child pornography charge. 

Kelly was found guilty of all nine counts of sex trafficking and racketeering last month in New York. His sentencing is scheduled for May 4. He is facing life in prison. 

He still faces state charges for sexual abuse in Chicago and a child prostitution charge in Minnesota. It’s possible that if he receives a lengthy prison sentence in the New York case, prosecutors will drop the state charges.