Judge Gives R. Kelly OK to Travel to Miami
CHICAGO — A judge ruled Friday that R&B; singer R. Kelly, who has been free on bond since he was indicted on child pornography charges, can leave the state to appear at a nightclub in Miami this weekend.
But Judge Vincent Gaughan ordered him to surrender his passport and refrain from any illegal contact with minors.
The Grammy-winning singer was silent during the hearing.
Kelly, 35, whose first name is Robert, was indicted in June by a Cook County grand jury on 21 counts of child pornography stemming from a videotape authorities say shows him having sex with a 13-year-old girl.
Kelly says the man on the tape isn’t him.
On Friday, defense attorney Edward Genson argued that attending the event was vital to Kelly’s livelihood.
If convicted, Kelly, who lives in suburban Olympia Fields, could be sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $100,000.
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