Minnesota prosecutors have dropped sex abuse charges against disgraced R&B superstar R. Kelly that alleged he invited a 17-year-old girl to his hotel room in 2001 and paid her $200 to dance naked with him.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office said in a statement Tuesday that it believes her and that Kelly would likely be convicted if tried, but prosecuting him on charges that had been dormant since being filed in 2019 wouldn't make a difference now that Kelly's federal convictions could keep him in prison for the rest of his life.
“As a surviving victim of R. Kelly, I feel sad about the fact that Hennepin County Attorney’s Office in Minnesota decided not to hold him accountable for what he did to me when I was a minor,” the statement said. “If there had been a criminal trial, I would have been willing to testify against R. Kelly. Even though it wouldn’t have brought any extra prison time for him, it would have given me closure.
The woman in Minnesota sued Kelly in 2021, but that case remains dormant, too, because Kelly is in prison and is unable to defend himself, cord records show. He was transferred to a federal prison in North Carolina last month. When he announced the Minnesota charges in 2019, then-County Attorney Mike Freeman said Kelly met the young woman before a concert in Minneapolis when she tried to get his autograph. Freeman said the performer gave her his signature and a phone number, and when she called it, she was invited to Kelly’s hotel room. She was offered $200 to take off her clothes and dance, and Kelly took his clothes off as well and they danced together, Freeman said.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Seabridge Gold secures CA$200 million investment to advance gold mine project - Terrace StandardSeabridge Gold secures CA$200 million investment to advance gold mine project
Read more »
MINNESOTA HORROR: Beloved hockey coach murdered on doorstepThe cold\u002Dblooded murder of a beloved high school hockey coach who was shot to death on the steps of his home has shocked the Twin Cities.
Read more »
MINNESOTA HORROR: Beloved hockey coach murdered on doorstepThe cold\u002Dblooded murder of a beloved high school hockey coach who was shot to death on the steps of his home has shocked the Twin Cities.
Read more »
Total Chaos at Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party EventDFL Chairman condemns behavior, but does this incident tarnish the party's reputation as democracy defenders?
Read more »
Defending champ Jerry Kelly commits to 2023 Shaw Charity ClassicJerry Kelly will be return to Calgary to defend his title at the Shaw Charity Classic presented by Rogers.
Read more »
Defending champ Jerry Kelly commits to 2023 Shaw Charity ClassicJerry Kelly will be return to Calgary to defend his title at the Shaw Charity Classic presented by Rogers.
Read more »