R. Kelly is facing 11 new sex-related charges. On Thursday, Cook County prosecutors in Chicago filed new sexual assault charges against the singer over an offense that allegedly took place in January 2010, the Chicago Sun Times reports.
Few details have been released, but the victim is believed to be one of the accusers already named in a previous case.
Some of the charges carry a potential sentence of 30 years. Still, in this latest case, Kelly is charged with two counts of criminal sexual assault by force, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a victim who’s between the ages of 13 to 16, and four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault.
A grand jury reportedly heard testimony from R. Kelly’s latest accusers earlier this week that detail the lengths the singer went to traffic underage girls for sex.
TMZ reports that a number of witnesses provided testimony alleging Kelly’s team secured travel for them in order to move them across state lines in exchange for sex while they were underage.
The grand jury also reportedly heard testimony that could lead to obstruction of justice charges.
One of Kelly’s alleged victims reportedly testified that the disgraced singer paid off witnesses to not testify in his 2008 trial in which Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges.
Another witness claimed that Kelly secured vacations for witnesses during the 2008 trial so that they could not testify.
The grand jury is also considering testimony that Kelly used threats of bodily harm and intimidation to keep witnesses from testifying during the trial.
Kelly’s attorney and the Northern District of Illinois have declined to comment. Still, they’ve continuously denied any wrongdoing on the part of Kelly.
The disgraced singer is currently out on $1 million bond, but he’s due back in court for his latest charges on June 6.
