Crime + Justice Energy + Environment Extreme Weather Space + Science
R. Kelly leaves jail after posting bail
By Sara Sidner and Holly Yan, CNN
Updated 7:15 PM EST, Mon February 25, 2019
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 14: Singer R. Kelly attends the Ovadia & Sons front row during New York Fashion Week: Men's S/S 2016 at Skylight Clarkson Sq on July 14, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
PHOTO: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Hear decades of allegations against R. Kelly
banon wayne split
Trump pardons 73 people, commutes sentences of 70 others
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 17: The U.S. Capitol dome is seen beyond a security fence on January 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. After last week's riots at the U.S. Capitol Building, the FBI has warned of additional threats in the nation's capital and in all 50 states. According to reports, as many as 25,000 National Guard soldiers will be guarding the city as preparations are made for the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th U.S. President. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
PHOTO: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
PHOTO: Pool/Getty Images
Mitch McConnell: Capitol rioters were fed lies
CNBC host reveals why he left Fox News
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 16: National Guard troops march by security fencing near the U.S. Capitol on January 16, 2021 in Washington, DC. After last week's riots at the U.S. Capitol Building, the FBI has warned of additional threats in the nation's capital and in all 50 states. According to reports, as many as 25,000 National Guard soldiers will be guarding the city as preparations are made for the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th U.S. President. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
PHOTO: Eric Thayer/Getty Images
Two Army National Guard members removed from inauguration duty
trump farewell message
PHOTO: White House Photo
An 18-year-old college student from Georgia has been sentenced to four months in prison in the Cayman Islands after breaking the British Caribbean territoryís Covid-19 protocol while visiting her boyfriend for a jet skiing competition, according to her family.
PHOTO: Courtesy Jeanne Mack
Teen jailed for breaking Covid quarantine speaks out
daily weather forecast california fire threat strong winds snow_00003520.png
Severe wind event promps fire threat in California
This screen grab from a Zoom call shows New York Mets general manager Jared Porter Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. Mets general manager Jared Porter sent graphic, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter in 2016 when he was working for the Chicago Cubs in their front office, ESPN reported Monday night, Jan. 18, 2021.
NY Mets fire GM after he reportedly sent explicit pictures to female reporter In 2016
PHOTO: CNN
'Far too close:' Army secretary reveals sobering details on riot
US President Donald Trump waves to the media as he makes his way to board Air Force One before departing from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on January 12, 2021. - Trump is traveling to Texas to review his border wall project. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOTO: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Trump mostly in seclusion during final days of presidency
Members of the Michigan Boogaloo Bois an anti-government group stand with their long guns near the Capitol Building in Lansing, Michigan on January 17, 2021, during a nationwide protest called by anti-government and far-right groups supporting US President Donald Trump and his claim of electoral fraud in the November 3 presidential election. - The FBI warned authorities in all 50 states to prepare for armed protests at state capitals in the days leading up to the January 20 presidential inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. (Photo by SETH HERALD / AFP) (Photo by SETH HERALD/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOTO: Seth Herald/AFP/Getty Images
Expert: Social media to extremism is like oxygen to fire
Pharmacist Jason Hyde fills syringes with the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine as first responders wait to receive it at UMass Memorial Hospital in Marlborough, Massachusetts on January 12, 2021. - First Responders started to receive their vaccinations on January 11, as part of the phase one of vaccinations roll out in Massachusetts. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
PHOTO: Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images
CDC warns new Covid-19 variants could accelerate spread in US
PHOTO: @FLOTUS
Watch Melania Trump's farewell speech
UNITED STATES - JANUARY 4: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., is seen during a group photo with freshmen members of the House Republican Conference on the House steps of the Capitol on Monday, January 4, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
PHOTO: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images
GOP lawmaker accused of giving 'reconnaissance' tour prior to Capitol riot
(CNN) —
R. Kelly left Chicago's Cook County Jail on Monday afternoon after posting bail in his sexual abuse case.
Kelly, one of the most successful R&B artists of all time, was indicted on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse of four victims, prosecutors said. His attorney, Steve Greenberg, pleaded not guilty on his behalf.
Kelly turned himself in to Chicago police on Friday following his indictment. He was unable to post the $100,000 bail until Monday.
R. Kelly stands accused of aggravated sexual abuse against four women, three of whom were children at the time of the alleged incidents. He has strongly denied the accusations and pleaded not guilty Monday to all charges through his attorney.
R. Kelly, right, leaves Cook County Jail with his attorney Steve Greenberg on Monday.
PHOTO: Matt Marton/AP
Lawyer says there's more video evidence against Kelly
Three of the accusers were underage at the time of the alleged crimes.
Attorney Michael Avenatti, who represents one of the accusers, said new witnesses and more videos indicate Kelly "deserves to be locked up for the rest of his life."
R. Kelly has been associated with claims of sexual misconduct with minors and other crimes for more than two decades
PHOTO: Prince Williams/WireImage/GETTY IMAGES
Related Article CNN watched the tape that allegedly shows Kelly with an underage girl
"Over the weekend, we have encountered a number of additional witnesses who we have interviewed, who we are in the process of preparing to meet with prosecutors," Avenatti said Monday.
"Each of these witnesses describe a decadeslong system of abuse by Mr. Kelly of underage girls."
Avenatti said two more videos incriminate Kelly – in addition to one previously viewed by CNN that shows a man who appears to be Kelly performing sex acts with a girl.
The first video shows actions that mirror some of the alleged acts for which Kelly was arrested on child pornography charges in 2002. Kelly was acquitted six years later.
On Monday, Avenatti said a second video was turned over to prosecutors.
On February 22, 2019 Robert Kelley was taken into custody at the Chicago Police Departments 1st District located at 1718 S. State Street at approximately 8:14 p.m. after being indicted by a Grand Jury in Cook County. No further details are available at this time.
PHOTO: Chicago Police Dept
Related Article Child support, overdue rent among R. Kelly's money problems
"The videotape depicts Mr. Kelly engaged in illegal sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. It is approximately 55 minutes in length," Avenatti said. "It leaves no question as to Mr. Kelly's guilt on the tape."
He said he has also learned of a third video, but wouldn't specify what was on it.
Kelly's attorney warned against judging his client too quickly. Greenberg said he hasn't seen the videos and can't confirm whether Kelly is in them.
"All of this is ridiculously premature," he said.
Attorneys duke it out over credibility
The alleged abuse took place over 12 years, Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx said.
Singer R. Kelly performs at the '18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards' at the Scottish Rite Auditorium on March 20, 2004 in Los Angeles, California.
PHOTO: Kevin Winter/Getty Images/File
Related Article Black women would not rest until R. Kelly was investigated
She said one of the alleged victims gave authorities a shirt she wore during an alleged encounter with Kelly, which later tested positive for Kelly's DNA.
Prosecutors say there is a video that shows multiple sex acts, allegedly with Kelly and a girl who repeatedly refers to her 14-year-old genitalia.
But Kelly's attorney said he doesn't believe the accusers.
"I believe all the women are lying," Greenberg said.
Avenatti fired back at Greenberg, calling his statements "outrageous and completely unprofessional."
"Had these victims not been black, and had they not come from – in many cases – disadvantaged households," their claims would have been taken more seriously, Avenatti said.
The singer faced eviction from his studio
On Saturday, Kelly's bond was set at $1 million. To leave custody, he had to pay 10% of the total, or $100,000.
But Kelly's lawyer said he "really doesn't have any money at this point." He cited "mismanagement," "hangers-on" and "bad deals" as some of the reasons
Kelly's surprising money problems include go beyond his struggle to post bail.
He risked eviction from his Chicago studio last month because he owes more than $166,000 in unpaid rent.
Court documents show a judge signed an eviction order in January. The documents show Robert needed to move out on or before January 21.
Commentator: R. Kelly's accusers were ignored because they're black
But Kelly was still at the studio minutes before he turned himself in to police on Friday night.
The eviction process began in July 2018 when the landlord, Midwest Commercial Funding LLC, said Kelly defaulted on the lease by initially failing to pay more than $79,000 in rent. The back rent continued to pile up, and the judge finally signed off on an eviction.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Kelly also owes a Georgia property management company more than $31,000 in past due rent payments for two homes in suburban Atlanta.
Kelly owed thousands in unpaid child support, too
According to court documents reviewed by CNN, Kelly owed more than $169,000 in unpaid child support to his ex-wife as of February 6.
The court ordered Kelly to make a monthly payment of $20,833 on January 8, 2009, but Kelly failed to show up to that hearing, the documents state.
To avoid being held in contempt of court, a judge ordered Kelly to pay $161,663 by March 6.
Greenberg said his client "does not have to pay the child support before getting out" on bail.
Kelly's next court hearing is scheduled for March 22.
Sara Sidner reported from Chicago, and Holly Yan reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Dakin Andone contributed to this report.