An arrest warrant has been issued for singer R. Kelly after he failed to appear in court for a Minnesota sex crime case on Thursday.
The singer, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, was expected to attend an initial court appearance at the Hennepin County District Court, but was a no-show. Kelly is facing two counts of child prostitution and solicitation.
A bench warrant — an order issued by a judge on behalf of the state — was granted to prosecutors, requiring the Chicago native to show up to court for the next hearing.
CNN reports neither Kelly nor any of his legal representation showed up.
Steve Greenberg, Kelly’s attorney, tweeted neither he nor Kelly received notice of a scheduled court appearance.
It is irresponsible for the media to report #RKelly "failed" to appear in Minnesota court today. I was not served with any notice of court proceedings, nor was he. I did not resist his appearance, nor did he.
— Steve Greenberg (@SGcrimlaw) September 12, 2019
According to the charges, Kelly molested a 17-year-old girl he met on July 11, 2001, after the teenager asked for his autograph at an event. After offering her his phone number, she was invited to his Minneapolis hotel. The complaint claims Kelly offered her $200 to dance before he removed both of their clothes. Allegedly, Kelly touched her sexually while she danced.
USA Today reports the unnamed accuser contacted Chicago police in January, when Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly mini-series premiered. An investigation was launched soon after.
The three-year statute of limitations for such cases only applies to a suspect if they had stayed in Minnesota, in which the songwriter did not.
The 52-year-old currently faces separate charges in Illinois and New York. He’s being held in general population at the Federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown Chicago on 13 federal sex crime charges.
The disgraced singer has plead not guilty in all the charges pending against him and maintains his innocence.
Kelly’s initial Illinois trial date has been set for April 27, 2020.