Human Interest

Singer R. Kelly guilty of child abuse

Washington, Sep 15 (EFE).- American singer R. Kelly has been found guilty of sexually abusing minors months after a New York court sentenced the Grammy award winner to 30 years in prison for organized crime and sex trafficking.

A federal judge in Chicago found the 1990s R&B guilty of six of the 13 charges against him on Wednesday.

He was convicted on three counts of child pornography and three more related to enticing minors for sex.

The 55-year-old singer, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is on suicide watch in a New York prison.

He was imprisoned in June following his conviction in a six-week trial in which dozens of people testified against him.

The New York prosecution called 45 witnesses who provided hundreds of pieces of written, videotaped, and audiotaped evidence related to the abuse of his victims.

Prosecutors had requested a sentence of more than 25 years in prison and a fine of $50,000 to $250,000.

The penalty was eventually fixed at $100,000.

The defense had asked for no more than ten years in jail.

His lawyers argued that he had “experienced a traumatic childhood that included severe and prolonged childhood sexual abuse, poverty and violence.”

During the trial, a dozen witnesses claimed to have been assaulted by R. Kelly, while others described a continued pattern of abuse.

He was characterized by women a charming celebrity, who routinely targeted young victims attending her shows.

He would then sexually assault them behind the stage minutes after the event.

The testimonies also revealed prolonged abuse by Kelly of his partners, whom he beat and forced them to call him “Daddy.”

He dictated how they dressed; when they could eat and use the restroom; and how they interacted with other guys.

They required his permission to exit the rooms he was keeping them in.

They allege that R. Kelly used an entire network of his employees to help him to recruit young girls to isolate and intimidate them. EFE

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