R. Kelly Has Been Charged with 11 More Counts of Sexual Assault

Filed on Thursday, 11 felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault were brought against R. Kelly, some of which carry a potential 30 years in prison if he is convicted, the Chicago Sun Times reports.

The alleged offense took place in January 2010, but it’s unclear whether the new charges are tied to a new allegation. Kelly’s lawyer stated the charges are related to an alleged victim and acts that were the basis of one of the four sex abuse cases previously brought against Kelly.

Within the new charges, Kelly is facing four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault by force, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a victim between the ages of 13 and 16. The four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault carry a sentence of up to 30 years.

According to the new charges, Kelly allegedly forced victims to perform multiple sexual acts, including oral sex and penetration.

Kelly had 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse brought against him in February, all 10 of which he pleaded not guilty to. The February charges detail abuse to four women, three of whom were underage at the time of the alleged abuse, that occurred between 1998 and 2010. All 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse are lower-class felonies that hold a sentence of up to seven years.

In the new charges, the alleged victim is referred to as “J.P.,” which mirrors the same initials used to describe one of the four women from February’s charges. The February case with “J.P.” involves Kelly being charged with three of the 10 Class 2 felonies of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Since pleading not guilty in February, Kelly has been released on $1 million bond, but is set to appear in court again on June 6 due to the new charges.