R. Kelly Re-applies for Release from Jail Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Written by Rev Noni on April 17, 2020
RnB musician, R. Kelly has made another attempt to get out of jail due to coronavirus. He claims that his medical crisis is even worse now, and insists that he won’t jump bail.
On July 11, 2019, Kelly was arrested on federal charges alleging sex crimes and obstruction of justice. Kelly faces a total of 18 federal counts, including child pornography, kidnapping, and forced labor, as of July 12, 2019. As a result, he is currently incarcerated at Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago.
The disgraced singer and his legal team say when he last asked to get out, the court noted there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the Chicago jail where he’s currently locked up and that is no longer the case.
He adds that the Chicago MCC admits there are at least 6 confirmed positive cases now among inmates, along with 7 staff members. He argues that it’s predictably going to get worse. He claims if he doesn’t get out soon, there is a possibility that he will be infected too.
The judge denied his first release request earlier this month, saying the singer failed to explain how he wasn’t still a flight risk. R. Kelly now claims that if he tried to run he would be the most obvious and recognizable person on the streets of Chicago, or anywhere else in the country, in light of the severe stay-at-home restrictions. He also adds that there are no flights for him, he’s afraid to fly, and he doesn’t have a passport or the means to fly.
In his request, he says that he will agree to 24/7 surveillance and GPS monitoring to make sure he doesn’t go anywhere other than home or meet with anyone other than his lawyers. The judge is yet to make a decision.
