Following Monday’s guilty verdict that sent fans and victims clashing on social media, the defense attorney for R. Kelly says they are already preparing for an appeal.
Attorney Deveraux Cannick spoke with reporters outside a Brooklyn federal courthouse immediately following the verdict about the next steps and admitted that Kelly was not expecting the outcome.
“Of course, Mr. Kelly is disappointed. He was not anticipating this verdict because, based on the evidence, why should he anticipate this verdict? Cannick stated, claiming that witnesses gave “different versions” of abuse at the hands of the “Ima Flirt” singer. He also slammed the federal government for multiple inconsistencies in the evidence.
The 54-year-old was convicted of one count of racketeering and 14 other crimes, including child sexual exploitation, bribery, kidnapping, and sex trafficking. He was also found guilty of eight charges of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits sex trafficking. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4th and is facing ten years to life behind bars.
The guilty verdict does not mark the end of Kelly’s legal battles. He is still facing similar sexual abuse charges in Chicago and Minnesota.
