By Kendall Washington
African American singer, songwriter, and record producer, Robert Sylvester “R” Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison, today.
According to trial transcripts, Kelly used his celebrity status to reel in young girls, boys, and women for his own sexual pleasure.
Due to what was called his “reckless decisions,” the once popular former R&B singer will now sit in a cell for 30 years or more after his trial in August on charges of child pornography and luring children into sex acts.
In September of 2021, Kelly was convicted of nine counts — eight counts of violation of the Mann Act and one charge of racketeering.
Throughout the duration of the trail witnesses testified they were sexually and physically abused by Kelly.
Jennifer Bonjean, Kelly’s attorney, says he is not willing to address the court.
She says her client “rejects that he is this monster”
While R. Kelly was winning billboard awards and collecting Grammys, his victims were losing sleep at night. Gloria Allred, an attorney representing three of the testified victims’ says “it’s time for Mr. Kelly to be accountable.”
Before sentencing Judge Ann Donnelly says that the trauma from his sexual abuse as a child “may explain…what led to [his] behavior” but “it most surely is not an excuse.”
Faith, a woman who testified against Kelly said her father was sexually abused as a child yet “he never molested me.”
Kelly’s victims are tired of the excuses, and want Kelly to lose his freedom.
One victim said, “Now it’s your turn to have your freedom taken from you.”
