Guide Note
R. Kelly was acquitted on child pornography charges by a jury in Chicago on June 13, 2008. Exactly five weeks after Kelly's trial began, the Grammy-winning R&B singer was found "not guilty" on all 14 counts against him.1
Kelly, who was accused of videotaping himself having sex with an underage girl, could have been sentenced to 15 years in prison if he'd been convicted.
Fast Facts
- Kelly was indicted in 2002
- Trial began on May 9, 2008
- June 10, 2008: Defense rested its case
- Jury deliberated less than eight hours before returning a not guilty verdict2
- Kelly hugged his attorneys and dabbed his eyes with a handkerchief when verdict was read2
- No comment from Kelly about the verdict
- Kelly and the alleged victim both denied they were on videotape having sex3
- Defense attorney Edward Genson says there "wasn't enough evidence" to convict Kelly4
- Kelly did not testify during his trial
The Case
In February of 2002, a videotape allegedly featuring Kelly having sex with a girl as young as 13 was sent to police. Kelly was indicted four months later on multiple counts of child pornography.
Quotes
"Robert (R. Kelly) has said all along that he believes in our system, and he believes in God. And that when all the facts came out in court, he'd be cleared of these terrible charges. He did not expect that it would take 6 ½ years. It's been a terrible ordeal for him and his family, and at this point all he wants to do is move forward and try to put it behind him."—Allan Mayer2
"He sat there and was thanking God. All I heard the entire time those 14 verdicts were being read was thank you Jesus. He is a deeply religious man."—Sam Adam4
