On Thursday, a federal judge agreed to keep a jury anonymous if R. Kelly stands trial for federal charges in New York.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly also agreed with prosecutors’ request to keep the jury partially sequestered. Donnelly’s ruling was mentioned in a docket entry regarding Kelly’s case, but the order itself appears to be sealed.
The Sun-Times reported that Kelly, 53, is also facing charges in Illinois, but he will likely stand trial first in New York, where he is facing racketeering charges. Kelly is also facing charges in New York for allegedly infecting a woman and minor girl with herpes.
New York prosecutors made the request to keep the jury anonymous in July — the same month they alleged evidence in the case could lead jurors to believe Kelly is “capable of inflicting violence,” according to the news outlet.
Kelly has been jailed in Illinois since July 2019 for 26 federal charges which include child pornography, obstruction of justice, and sexual abuse of a minor. He is also facing 21 sex-related criminal charges in Cook County. The state charges reportedly stem from allegations dating back to 1998 and involve at least three underage girls.
In August 2019, authorities in Minnesota charged Kelly with two counts of prostitution with a person under 18 in connection with an alleged 2001 incident.
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[Featured image: R. Kelly/Cook County Sheriff’s Office]