Disgraced entertainer Robert Sylvester Kelly was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of child pornography and enticement of a minor last September. Of the 20-year sentence, Judge Harry Leinenweber has allowed 19 of the 20 years to be served concurrently.
Kelly’s latest sentence was brought forth by federal charges levied against the singer in Chicago. Previously, he had been convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges in New York and sentenced to 30 years in prison. In short, today’s sentencing will extend Kelly’s time in prison to 31 years.
“Robert Kelly is a serial sexual predator who, over the course of many years, specifically targeted young girls and went to great lengths to conceal his abuse of Jane and other minor victims,” federal prosecutors stated in a filing prior to Thursday’s sentencing hearing.
“To this day, and even following the jury verdict against him, Kelly refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes.”
Prior to Thursday’s hearing, Kelly’s legal representatives pushed back against the 20-year sentence handed to their client. Attorneys argued that the singer was effectively serving a “de facto life sentence” and asked that any additional sentence be served concurrently.
“In the unlikely event that Kelly was to survive his 30-year sentence, there is no reason to believe he would re-offend as a geriatric in his mid-80s,” Kelly’s attorneys stated.
“The overwhelming majority of Kelly’s criminal conduct was committed a quarter century ago.”
BREAKING: Judge Leinenweber sentences Kelly to 240 months, but only 12 months consecutive. Remaining 228 months concurrent to existing sentence.
— CBS Chicago (@cbschicago) February 23, 2023
