American R&B singer R Kelly has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse with nine of them being with minors
Robert Sylvester Kelly, has been at the centre of controversy following the sexual abuse against him.
An arrest warrant was issued, and the 52-year-old turned himself in to police in Chicago something his lawyer Steve Greenberg says he is “shell-shocked”.
Mr Greenberg while speaking to the media said that his client was “extraordinarily disappointed and depressed” by the charges and maintains his innocence.
The indictment come just weeks after a documentary series called Surviving R Kelly aired.
It contained decades of allegations of abuse against R Kelly, from many women, including the singer’s ex-wife.
Prosecutors in Cook County announced the aggravated criminal sexual abuse charges, involving four victims, on Friday.
Kelly handed himself into Chicago police custody on Friday night
They say they took place between 1998 and 2010. Documents say at least three of the victims were aged between 13 and 16 at the time of their reported assaults.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said he could face a maximum of seven years in prison for each count.
A no-bail arrest warrant has been issued for Kelly.
Greenberg, his lawyer, told AP that he had offered to sit down with prosecutors before the filing to describe “why these charges are baseless” but said they refused.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx had urged women to come forward after the documentary series aired.
Lawyer Michael Avenatti has said he is representing six people, including two alleged victims, making allegations against Kelly. At least one of the victims is included in Friday’s indictment, he said.