R. Kelly Not Guilty on All Counts

R&B star gives first interview since child porn acquittal

(NEWSER) - In his first interview since beating child pornography charges in June, R&B star R. Kelly said, “I don't like anyone illegal.” But when asked if he liked teenage girls, the AP reports Kelly, 40, told BET: “When you say teenage … how old are we talkin' … 19? I have some 19-year-old friends.” More»

Lack of testimony from alleged victim sowed doubt in jurors' minds

(NEWSER) - Jurors in the R. Kelly trial say it was the lack of testimony from the alleged victim—or her parents—that swayed them towards acquittal, Time reports. One juror said he was sure it was Kelly in the sex tape at the heart of the case, but wasn't convinced of the girl's identity. And jurors said the R. Kelly mole that was the object of endless hours of testimony was a non-issue: "The mole played more of a role for the press. It never came up in deliberations." Five of the jurors had been ready to convict at one point. More»

R. Kelly hasn't paid mortgage since June 2010 on Chicago-area mansion

(AP) - The latest American facing foreclosure: Grammy-winning singer R. Kelly. In a foreclosure lawsuit filed last month, JPMorgan Chase Bank states that Kelly hasn't made monthly mortgage payments since June of last year on his suburban Chicago mansion. The home's appraised value fell 26% in a year, to $3.8 million in 2010. The original 1999 loan was for $3.5 million, and the principal due is more than $2.9 million. More»

(NEWSER) - A 25-year-old Chicago stockbroker was sentenced yesterday to 35 years in prison for soliciting sex from minors on Facebook, the Tribune reports. Facebook said this appears to be the first case of a sexual predator using the social networking site. Michael Macalindong posed as a girl to lure a teenage boy, and then blackmailed the teen with video of their encounters. More»

Kelly staff told Allen she should die for testifying

(NEWSER) - The star witness in R. Kelly's child pornography trial said she was threatened for coming forward, AP reports. According to documents unsealed yesterday—a week after Kelly was acquitted—Lisa Van Allen claimed an employee told her she should have been killed for damaging the R&B star. Allen had testified that she had sex with Kelly and an underage female on tape. More»