December 21, 2007

R. Kelly Makes It To Court, Avoids Arrest; Judge Considers Revoking Bond Anyway

By Gil Kaufman (MTV.com)

R. Kelly avoided going to jail Thursday (December 20) when he made it back to Chicago in time for a 9 a.m. court date in his ongoing child-pornography case. But Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan said he was "very disappointed" in the R&B singer for being late and will consider revoking Kelly's bond, according to The Associated Press. Gaughan had issued a warrant for Kelly's arrest when he failed to show up on Wednesday, but agreed to hold off enforcing the warrant on the condition that Kelly appear Thursday morning.

The singer, 40, arrived as ordered, according to Chicago's CBS2. TMZ reported that Kelly, wearing a dark suit, actually arrived 20 minutes early for the appearance, only to have Gaughan continue the hearing until Friday morning. The judge was expected to set a trial date in the case, which has dragged on for five years without a trial and originated with 14 counts of child pornography filed against Kelly in 2002 for allegedly videotaping himself having sex with an allegedly underage girl.

According to reports, Kelly's lawyer said on Wednesday that the singer was initially delayed because of "some snow" in Sacramento, California, where he had performed. Kelly's tour bus and three others were pulled over in Green River, Utah, for traveling reportedly in excess of 100 mph, and police checked their logs to see how long the drivers had been behind the wheel. Because the logs had not been filled out properly, the police ordered the buses to stop for eight hours, leaving Kelly and his crew stranded.

Despite the excuse Kelly's lawyer presented, Gaughan admonished the singer anyway, saying he will decide Friday whether to revoke the bond.

The singer must obtain permission each time he travels outside the state of Illinois. He is scheduled to play a hometown show at the United Center in Chicago on Friday.