R. Kelly Sentenced

Former R&B singer R. Kelly was sentenced in a Chicago federal court to 20 years yesterday, his second sentencing in less than a year. Kelly, 56, was convicted in September on three counts of production of child pornography and three counts of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Kelly will serve 19 years concurrently and one year consecutively to his prior 30-year sentence for a federal racketeering conviction in New York, bringing his total to 31 years. Prosecutors had asked for a 25-year sentence to be served once his other 30-year sentence was complete, while Kelly’s defense argued that he is already serving a “de facto life sentence” as the singer may be nearly 90 when he is released.

Kelly has been accused of sexually abusing underage girls for nearly three decades. He still faces solicitation charges in Minnesota; Chicago prosecutors dismissed similar charges against Kelly last month. See the timeline of the case here.