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R & B singer R. Kelly leaves the
Cook County criminal courthouse after a status hearing on child
pornography charges in Chicago in this May 18, 2007 file photo. A
judge on Friday allowed Kelly to remain free on bond pending his trial on
child pornography charges in spite of his missed court appearance this
week (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo
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BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- A judge on Friday allowed R&B singer R.
Kelly to remain free on bond pending his trial on child pornography charges in
spite of his missed court appearance this week, media reported Saturday.
Judge Vincent Gaughan of the Cook County District Court
ruled that the 40-year-old Grammy winner could remain free on
750,000-U.S.-dollar bond and thereby he can continue on his 45-city road show.
Prosecutors in Chicago had sought to have Kelly
arrested after he failed to show for a hearing in his criminal court case
Wednesday.
The singer's absence was an accident because his tour
bus was delayed by snow in California and was later stopped for speeding in
Utah, according to his lawyers.
In court Friday, Gaughan scolded Kelly for his
speeding buses, saying it could have had disastrous consequences if one of the
rigs hit another vehicle, particularly a schoolbus. As such, the judge said that
no vehicle the singer rides in is allowed to go over the speed limit.
"I'd like to say sorry for this whole incident, and
next time, I would get a plane," the aviation-phobic singer told the
court.
The judge also ordered Kelly to cancel the last
show on his tour -- Jan. 13 in Hampton, Virginia -- so that he will have no
trouble making it to court for his next pretrial hearing on Jan. 14.
Kelly was charged with child pornography in 2002 for
allegedly making a video of himself having sex with a girl prosecutors say could
have been as young as 13 or 14. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years
in prison.
Kelly long ago pleaded not guilty to the charges.
(Agencies)
R. Kelly in child pornography case may
be arrested
BEIJING, Dec.
20(Xinhuanet) -- Prosecutors in Chicago are seeking to have R. Kelly arrested
after he failed to show for a hearing in his criminal court case, media report
Thursday.
The 40-year-old R&B singer, who is in the middle of a
45-city tour, faces child pornography charges for allegedly videotaping sex acts
with a young teenage girl. He has pleaded not guilty. Full story
Contract or jealousy? Kelly drops
Ne-Yo from tour
BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Just one week into R.
Kelly's Double Up tour with Keyshia Cole and J. Holiday, R&B singer Ne-Yo
has been dropped as the opening act, his label confirmed.
"I am disappointed that I won't be able to perform for my
fans," the singer said in a statement from Def Jam. "I love being on stage in
front of fans because of the immediate feedback you get. You know right away if
they are feeling you; and they were really feeling our show." Full story
R. Kelly to start U.S. concert tour
next month
BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- R. Kelly, American urban
R&B singer and songwriter, revealed he'll start his national concert tour
with an upcoming performance on Nov. 14 in Columbus, Georgia, media reports said
Wednesday.
The tour in support of his latest album "Double Up" is
tentatively set to make stops in a dozen U.S. cities. Full story
R&B singer Kelly child pornography
trial Sept. 17
BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Five years after child
pornography accusations were first made, Grammy Award-winning R&B singer R
Kelly will go on trial Sept. 17, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Kelly, 40, whose real name is Robert Kelly, faces up to 15
years in jail if convicted of videotaping himself having sex with an underage
girl. Prosecutors have said the girl could have been as young as 13. Full story
