R. Kelly’s bail request has been denied by a judge after the rapper appealed for early release due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Anne Donnelly of the Eastern District of New York ruled that the rapper must remain in custody at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago, Illinois.
According to Billboard, the federal judge in New York denied R. Kelly’s plea which reportedly stated he was fearful the coronavirus.
The singer is in custody facing several state and federal charges.
In New York, the federal charges include racketeering, transportation to engage in illegal sexual activity and coercion of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
R. Kelly has been denied bail release amid the coronavirus pandemic (Image: Getty Images)
In Illinois, he is awaiting trial in federal court on several sexual abuse allegations including child pornography.
In Cook County, he faces sexual assault and abuse charges.
Kelly, famous for his hit songs such as Ignition and Bump n’ Grind, has pleaded not guilty to the indictments.
The federal judge in New York denied R. Kelly’s plea which reportedly stated he was fearful the coronavirus (Image: Getty Images)
The judge’s denial comes after Kelly’s attorney filed a motion requesting for their client’s release on bail following fears over the spread of Covid-19 in prisons.
U.S. District Judge Anne Donnelly wrote, per her opinion, in Billboard: “While I am sympathetic to the defendant’s understandable anxiety about COVID-19, he has not established compelling reasons warranting his release.
“At present, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the MCC in Chicago.”
The rapper is facing sexual assault and abuse charges (Image: Getty Images)
The judge also cited that the Bureau of Prisons has already taken measures to protect its inmates from the deadly disease which has gone almost global and killed over 7,000 in the UK alone.
The measures include providing soap, suspending legal and social visits as well as inmate facility transfers, and screening and testing has been made available.
Judge Donnelly also said Kelly was also not among the at-risk groups identified by the Centers for Disease Control.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
