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Singer R. Kelly charged with sexual abuse, local media say, citing court records

R&B star R. Kelly has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sex abuse, at least some involving minors, a Cook County court official said Friday. The embattled singer -- dogged for decades by sexual abuse allegations involving underage women -- has a court date scheduled for March 8 in Chicago, where he resides, the official told reporters.

Reuters MAGAZINE
Published February 22,2019
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Prosecutors in Chicago charged Grammy-winning singer R. Kelly on Friday with multiple counts of sexual abuse, local media reported.

Citing court records, the Chicago Sun-Times said Kelly was charged in Cook County, Illinois, with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse. An attorney for the singer did not immediately return a call or email seeking comment.

Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx was scheduled to announce charges against Kelly at a news conference later on Friday in Chicago, Foxx's office said in a statement.

Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, was the subject of a television documentary series last month titled "Surviving R. Kelly" in which multiple women made allegations of sexual misconduct against the performer.

The "I Believe I Can Fly" singer and record producer has for years denied accusations of abuse, including those made in the new documentary series.

Kelly's record label, Sony Music-owned RCA, split with the Chicago native last month.