Embattled American singer, R Kelly has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse by the Cook County State’s Attorney office.
A judge signed off on an arrest warrant for the 52 years old singer, Friday afternoon in Chicago and his first court appearance is set for March 8. The alleged victims of most of these crimes are all said to be between the ages of 13 and 16 according to records.
The singer has denied any wrongdoing or illegal activity through his lawyer.
These 10 counts involve four victims, at least three of whom are underage. Lawyers for the Southern District of New York have also been meeting with alleged victims as well as agents from the IRS and FBI while the Department of Homeland Security has also opened up a probe.
The rape tape was submitted to the State’s Attorney’s Office last week by Michael Avenatti. At the time, Avenatti said that he believed it showed Kelly and an underage minor whose age he guessed to be 14.
When asked if either party might be investigated for these actions, an FBI spokesperson declined to comment.
This all comes in the wake of the Lifetime series Surviving R Kelly. The six-part documentary ended on a devastating note, with the parents of one of the young women who had run away with Kelly seen throwing rocks at his studio windows trying to get the attention of their daughter.