Step in the Name of Law: R. Kelly Chicago Trial Set for Next Summer

By Alyssa Wilson Published: October 21, 2021

Step in the Name of Law: R. Kelly Chicago Trial Set for Next Summer

FILE - In this June 6, 2019, file photo, singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty to 11 additional sex-related felonies during a court hearing before Judge Lawrence Flood at Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago. R&B singer R. Kelly is due in federal court to enter a plea to an updated federal indictment that includes sex abuse allegations involving a new accuser. The 53-year-old is expected to plead not guilty at a hearing Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Chicago to a superseding indictment unsealed last month that includes multiple counts of child pornography. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

In Summary

After being convicted of racketeering and violations of the Mann Act in New York, R. Kelly is now set to stand trial in Chicago in August.

Instead of stepping in the name of love, singer R. Kelly will be stepping into a Chicago court room to face child pornography, sexual abuse and obstruction of justice charges in Chicago.

According to ABC 7 Chicago, Kelly appeared virtually with his lawyer Steve Greenberg and was informed the trial would begin on August 1, 2022. In May, the case will return to court for a status update.

This comes after Kelly was found guilty of racketeering and violating the Mann Act in federal court in New York. Some of the lawyers from the New York case will join his legal team out of Chicago.

Federal prosecutors invoked the RICO Act, an act typically used to take down members of organized crime. Now, Kelly could potentially face decades behind bars. Greenberg is expecting the government to request 20 years or more for Kelly.

The singer first faced allegations of child sex abuse and acts of sexual violence more than 25 years ago. He was sued multiple times and faced 21 counts of making child pornography in 2002 in Chicago and was found not guilty.

More charges surfaced throughout the years and in 2019, the documentary series Surviving R. Kelly was released on Lifetime. It featured testimony from many of the singer’s accusers and their families.

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