R. Kelly was already facing numerous sex crime charges before new accusations were announced in Minnesota Monday.
MINNEAPOLIS — Singer R. Kelly is facing more criminal sexual misconduct accusations, this time in Minnesota. Kelly was charged Monday with two counts of prostitution with a minor.
Investigators say the case, which dates back to 2001, involved a victim under 18 that Kelly paid to get naked at his Minneapolis hotel. The girl had been seeking an autograph from Kelly.Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Monday that sexual intercourse did not take place, but there was dancing and sexual contact.Kelly, 52, was already facing numerous sex crime charges before today’s announcement.
Last month, Kelly was arrested and charged in Chicago with one count of conspiracy to receive child pornography, two counts of receiving child pornography, four counts of producing child pornography, five counts of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Prior to the Chicago arrest, Kelly had been charged in February with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse. Eleven additional charges were filed against the singer May 30 in Chicago.
“It is despicable that Mr. Kelly used his fame in order to prey on underaged girls,” Freeman stated.
“While there are more numerous charges in the Illinois and federal cases, we wanted to make sure that our victim here in Minneapolis also receives a measure of justice. We fully expect that at some future date, Mr. Kelly will have to account for his actions in Hennepin County.”
Minnesota authorities say the woman contacted police in January to report an incident that happened the day of Kelly’s concert on July 11, 2001. She was 17 at that time.
The victim first saw Kelly at the Minneapolis City Center, where fans were getting his autograph. When he signed an autograph for her, he included a telephone number, according to investigators.
The young woman called the number and was directed to a downtown Minneapolis hotel, the complaint states.
When she entered the hotel, she was ushered into the singer’s room. After engaging in small talk, Kelly gave the girl $200 to dance, police said.
He helped take off her clothes off, according to authorities. As she danced over him in his bed, Kelly made sexual contact, the complaint states.
When it was over, Kelly said he would see her again at the concert that night. She was included on Kelly’s guest list and watched the show very close to the stage, police said.
She would not have been able to get into the 18+ concert with a standard ticket.
The woman’s brother told a Minneapolis police investigator that he was surprised to see her at the concert, let alone that she was close to the stage. He said his sister had no money for such a ticket, according to the complaint.
His sister told him she had gone to Kelly’s room and danced for him for money. She did not go into detail and her brother did not press her because she seemed uncomfortable discussing the matter, according to police.
