The Latest: R. Kelly's lawyer says allegations are lies
By Associated Press
Feb 23, 2019 1:42 PM CST
Attorney Michael Avenatti speaks at a news conference, Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Chicago. R&B star R. Kelly was charged Friday with aggravated sexual abuse involving four victims, including at least three between the ages of 13 and 17. Avenatti, whose clients have included porn star Stormy Daniels,...   (Associated Press)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Latest on the sexual abuse case against R&B singer R. Kelly (all times local):

1:40 p.m.

The lawyer for R. Kelly says he thinks the four people the R&B singer is charged with sexually abusing are all lying.

Steve Greenberg made the comment to reporters Saturday after a judge set Kelly's bond at $1 million.

Kelly was booked Friday on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four female victims, including three who were between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx says the abuse dated back as far as 1998 and spanned more than a decade.

Kelly was tried and acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008 and has consistently denied any sexual misconduct. The 52-year-old Grammy winner's lawyer said Friday that he's confident Kelly will be vindicated.

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1:20 p.m.

A prosecutor told the judge at R. Kelly's bond hearing in Chicago that the singer met one of the four people he's charged with sexually abusing during his 2008 child pornography trial.

The prosecutor says the two met when he gave her an autograph, and that she was underage at the time.

Kelly was acquitted at that trial, which stemmed from a video purported to show him having sex with an underage girl as young as 13.

The prosecutor says Kelly sexually abused the girl he met during the trial between 2009 and 2010.

Kelly was booked Friday on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four female victims, including three who were between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx says the abuse dated back as far as 1998 and spanned more than a decade.

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1:10 p.m.

A judge has set R&B singer R. Kelly's bond at $1 million.

Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. said during Saturday's hearing in Chicago that the amount equals $250,000 for each of the four people he's charged with sexually abusing.

Lyke called the allegations against Kelly "disturbing" during the hearing. The singer stared at the floor while the judge was speaking and looked dejected.

Kelly was booked Friday on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four female victims, including three who were between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx says the abuse dated back as far as 1998 and spanned more than a decade.

Kelly was tried and acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008 and has consistently denied any sexual misconduct. The 52-year-old Grammy winner's lawyer said Friday that he's confident Kelly will be vindicated.

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1:05 p.m.

R. Kelly's lawyer has asked a judge to release the R&B singer on bond.

Attorney Steve Greenberg told Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. during Saturday's bonding hearing that, "Contrary to the song, Mr. Kelly doesn't like to fly," in reference to the Grammy-award winner's hit "I believe I can fly."

The judge called the allegations against Kelly "disturbing" as the singer stared at the floor looking dejected.

Kelly was booked Friday on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four female victims, including three who were between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx says the abuse dated back as far as 1998 and spanned more than a decade.

Kelly was tried and acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008 and has consistently denied any sexual misconduct. The 52-year-old Grammy winner's lawyer said Friday that he's confident Kelly will be vindicated.

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12:50 p.m.

R. Kelly has arrived at a Chicago court hearing where a judge will decide bond in the sexual abuse case against the R&B singer.

The judge at Saturday's hearing, Cook County Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr., is the same judge who presided over "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett's bond hearing earlier this week.

Kelly was booked Friday on 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four female victims, including three who were between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time. Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx says the abuse dated back as far as 1998 and spanned more than a decade.

Kelly was tried and acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008 and has consistently denied any sexual misconduct. The 52-year-old Grammy winner's lawyer said Friday that he's confident Kelly will be vindicated.

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12:05 a.m.

R&B singer R. Kelly is expected to appear in a Chicago court one day after being arrested and charged with aggravated sexual abuse.

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx announced 10 counts Friday against the Grammy winner. She said the abuse dated back as far as 1998 and spanned more than a decade. The charges involved four victims, including at least three between the ages of 13 and 17.

Chicago police say Kelly was taken into custody after the 52-year-old singer surrendered Friday night. He was scheduled to be arraigned Saturday.

Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008 and has consistently denied any sexual misconduct, but he has been dogged for decades by allegations that he violated underage girls and women and held some as virtual slaves.

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Check out the AP's complete coverage of the investigations into R. Kelly.

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