Singer R. Kelly charged with sexual abuse

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Prosecutors in Chicago charged Grammy-winning singer R. Kelly on Friday with multiple counts of sexual abuse, local media reported.

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Citing court records, the Chicago Sun-Times said Kelly was charged in Cook County, Illinois, with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse. An attorney for the singer did not immediately return a call or email seeking comment.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx was scheduled to announce charges against Kelly at a news conference later on Friday in Chicago, Foxx’s office said in a statement.

Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, was the subject of a television documentary series last month titled “Surviving R. Kelly” in which multiple women made allegations of sexual misconduct against the performer.

The “I Believe I Can Fly” singer and record producer has for years denied accusations of abuse, including those made in the new documentary series.

Kelly’s record label, Sony Music-owned RCA, split with the Chicago native last month.

(Reporting by Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago; Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler and Howard Goller)