*Content note: This article contains reference to child sexual abuse.*
This sentence will be served simultaneously with his 30-year prison sentence.
Convicted sex offender R Kelly has received a 20-year prison sentence for producing child sexual abuse imagery and the sexual coercion of minors.
However, this sentence will be served simultaneously with his 30-year sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking, which means he will serve no more than 31 years.
He will then be eligible for release at the age of 80.
The latest sentence was handed to by Judge Harry Leinenweber in Chicago. During the trial, the court were shown footage of Kelly sexualising abusing his goddaughter, who was referred to by the name ‘Jane’ in the proceedings.
Three other women also spoke out in the court.
A statement from Jane was reportedly read out in court, and according to AP, she said: “I have lost my dreams to Robert Kelly. I will never get back what I lost to Robert Kelly. I have been permanently scarred by Robert.”
Another victim, named in the court as ‘Nia’, told Kelly: “No longer will you be able to harm children.”
Last September, the singer was convicted for sex trafficking, after he was found guilty of exploiting his status to run a scheme to sexually abuse women and children over the course of two decades.
In his federal case, Kelly was found guilty of all nine counts he faced – including racketeering, sexual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, bribery and sex trafficking charges – as well as eight counts of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits sex trafficking across state lines.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, support is available. You can contact the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 77 8888.
