R. Kelly enters not guilty plea in superseding indictment

 Posted on March 13, 2020 in Sex Offenses

According to news sources, rap mogul R. Kelly entered not guilty pleas to 13 felony counts in a new superseding indictment in federal court in Illinois on March 5. The indictment, which was unsealed in February, included a felony count for a new alleged victim.

During the hearing, prosecutors told the court that another superseding indictment would likely be filed within the upcoming weeks to add another alleged victim. Kelly's trial, which had been scheduled for April 27, was rescheduled for Oct. 13 upon a defense request. The defense attorneys said that they could not be prepared for trial by April 27 because of the addition of the new alleged victim.

Kelly is facing charges of sexually abusing numerous women when they were minors. He is also accused of filming himself having sex with the girls and running a racketeering scheme to procure minors. Kelly has consistently denied the sexual abuse allegations against him. In 2008, he was found not guilty following a trial on similar charges. In addition to the federal charges in Illinois, he is also facing charges in New York and Minnesota.

Sexual abuse charges are extremely serious and can lead to decades in prison if people are convicted. Even after someone has discharged his or her sentence, the collateral consequences of sex crime convictions may continue up to the rest of a defendant's life. People who are facing serious charges might benefit from seeking the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. A lawyer who is experienced in this area of the law might review and analyze the evidence to identify any problems with how the investigation was conducted.