Singer R Kelly Slapped With More Abuse Charges

R Kelly

Embattled R&B singer R. Kelly has been charged with additional, more serious criminal counts involving one of the four victims whom prosecutors contend he sexually abused years ago, according to The Chicago Tribune citing court records and Kelly’s attorney.

The new 11-count indictment concerns a woman identified in charges only as J.P., who prosecutors have said met Kelly during his 2008 trial on child pornography charges and began having sexual contact with him the next year when she was only 16.

Kelly still faces separate indictments charging he sexually abused three other women — two of whom were also underage at the time.

The four most serious counts in Thursday’s indictment charge Kelly with aggravated criminal sexual assault — a Class X felony that could carry a prison sentence of six to 30 years on conviction. Previously, Kelly had faced charges that brought the potential of up to seven years in prison but left probation a possibility as well.

Kelly’s attorney, Steven Greenberg, confirmed that J.P. was one of the four alleged victims from when the singer was first charged in February.

“They’re more serious charges, but it doesn’t change the facts,” Greenberg said Thursday about the new indictment. “It doesn’t change how we’re going to approach the case.”

The four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault allege that in January 2010 Kelly forced himself on J.P. while physically battering her. He also threatened or endangered her life, the charges alleged.

Prosecutors have previously said that Kelly slapped and choked J.P. during their sexual encounters.