R. Kelly was ordered held without bond Tuesday in Chicago on sex-crimes charges — after federal prosecutors called him “an extreme danger to the community, especially underage girls.”
Lawyers for the accused pedophile singer tried arguing that he should be let out on bail while awaiting trial in Chicago on a 13-count indictment involving charges such as child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and obstruction of justice.
Kelly also faces sex-linked racketeering charges as part of the five-count Brooklyn indictment.
“How could he flee? He has no money,” Kelly’s lawyer, Steven Greenberg, told the judge, referring to the R&B star’s alleged drained finances.
Greenberg added that this client wouldn’t get very far even if he tried to leave the area, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Unlike his most famous song, ‘I Believe I Can Fly,’ Mr. Kelly doesn’t like to fly,” Greenberg said.
But prosecutors said Kelly is especially dangerous on the outside because he has already bribed and coerced his victims to keep silent about his crimes.
“He sexually assaulted those girls hundreds of times,” a prosecutor said, referring to Kelly’s accusers. “This risk of obstruction is real. This risk is ongoing. This risk is heightened by the defendant’s fame and power.”
Kelly, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, entered a plea of not guilty.
An extradition hearing for him to be brought to Brooklyn to face charges will occur sometime between on or before Sept. 4, authorities said.
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