R. Kelly’s hopes of getting his hefty sentence knocked down a few notches just came to a screeching halt, however his attorney revealed and promised that their ‘fight is not over.’
A federal appellate court has upheld R. Kelly’s 20-year sentence in his child po*nography case, dismissing his appeal and affirming his conviction. The “Ignition” vocalist had attempt to have his sentence tossed, asserting that the statute of limitations had expired. But, the court rejected this argument and called his crimes “horrible” and “horrific.”
In a statement to TMZ, R. Kelly’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, showcased disappointment with the court’s decision but promised to continue fighting for her client. She said, “Our fight is not over. We will seek review from the USSC (SCOTUS) on the statute of limitations questions at a minimum. And he has habeas remedies at his disposal. And if we win in NY, he will be entitled to re-sentencing in Illinois. So this story is far from over.”
This ruling comes after R. Kelly’s 30-year sentence in his New York case. The court acknowledged the influence of the highly influential “Surviving R. Kelly” Lifetime docuseries, but stated that the Chicago case’s sentence was determined separately and based on the nature of his crimes. But, the Chicago court also noted that it ‘kept in mind’ Kelly’s 30-year sentencing in his New York case, citing that case as the “elephant in the room.”
While R. Kelly tried to paint himself as unfairly portrayed and influenced by the media, the court’s decision solidifies his conviction and sentence in the eyes of the law. His attorney’s remarks indicate that they will explore all legal avenues available to challenge the conviction and potentially achieve a different outcome.
It remains to be seen how this ruling will impact R. Kelly’s chances in his ongoing legal fights. As with the case of Harvey Weinstein, the final say will ultimately lie with the courts. For now, the 20-year sentence imposed on R. Kelly for his Chicago child po*nography case stands. It looked like that the road ahead for R. Kelly involves further legal proceedings and potential re-sentencing, as his legal team continues to try to fight his legal battles. So, apparently his legal saga is far from over, and any changes in standing will have significant implications for R. Kelly and the public’s perception of his case. We’ll keep you all posted on this.