R Kelly Arrested on Sex Crime Charges While Walking Dog

Michael Prieve 3 Min Read
R. Kelly Returns To Court For Hearing On Sex Abuse Allegations
R. Kelly appears at a hearing before Judge Lawrence Flood at Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago Tuesday, May 7, 2019. (Photo by Getty Images)

Things are not looking good for R. Kelly after his latest arrest on federal child pornography and obstruction of justice charges.

The U.S. attorney's office in Chicago said the pop star was arrested Thursday on a 13-count indictment. The singer was outside while walking his dog when he was arrested, Kelly's publicist told ABC News.

Separately, a five-count indictment has been handed up from the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn that charges him with racketeering.

“R Kelly was arrested in Chicago tonight on charges contained in a 13-count indictment returned today in the Northern District of Illinois,” the attorney's office said in a statement late Thursday.

R. Kelly Returns To Court For Hearing On Sex Abuse Allegations
R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Court Building after a hearing on sexual abuse charges on May 7, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. – Kelly is charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP / Getty Images)

“The indictment includes charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice.”

It is not clear as of yet what other charges are included in either indictment.

Federal prosecutors for the Eastern District of New York are expected to unveil Friday additional charges in the case.

The singer's crisis manager, Darrell Johnson, says his legal team was expecting the indictment to happen but he doesn't know what the charges are yet. Kelly, whose legal name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was in high spirit as he awaits his trial, according to Johnson.

R. Kelly Returns To Court For Hearing On Sex Abuse Allegations
R. Kelly appears at a hearing before Judge Lawrence Flood at Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago Tuesday, May 7, 2019 (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/pool)

“Mr. Kelly has declared his innocence from day one,” said Johnson, who says he has been working with the R&B star for six months. “I've seen nothing, and I do mean nothing, that would lead to any type of guilt.”

The U.S. singer pleaded not guilty in June to felonies charges of sexual abuse involving four women, some of whom were underage when the alleged crimes occurred.

In 2008, Kelly was acquitted at a child pornography trial involving an infamous tape.

R. Kelly Returns To Court For Hearing On Sex Abuse Allegations
R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Court Building after a hearing on sexual abuse charges on May 7, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. – Kelly is charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP / Getty Images)
Share This Article