A woman involved in R. Kelly’s second federal trial testified that she had sex with Kelly before she turned 18.
R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison on June 29 after being convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking in New York.
That’s just as the singer faces another trial in Chicago on 13 charges against her, including child pornography, obstruction of justice, and solicitation of a minor for sex.
Opening statements were made on August 17 in R. Kelly’s trial in federal court in Chicago.
According to Chicago Suntimes, a witness who is now 37 and used the pseudonym “Jane” told the court on Thursday that her inappropriate contact with Kelly began when she was 13. The minimum age for consent in the United States is 16 years.
Kelly’s attorney argued that the distraught singer was not a “monster” and deserved a fair trial.
Prosecutors allege Kelly made at least four videos with Jane, some of which will be shown to jurors.
Jane testified that Kelly had sex with her “uncountable times” starting when she was 15.
The jurors were shown photographs of her in high school to illustrate how young she appeared at the time.
In a two-hour statement, Jane described a series of sexual encounters Kelly allegedly recorded.
In one video, Kelly appeared to hand her money.
When asked why, Jane said Kelly believed that if for some reason it was released, he would claim she was a prostitute.
Two of Kelly’s former employees are also facing charges in this trial.
