R. Kelly asks Supreme Court to overturn sex crimes convictions
R Kelly CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Singer R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail. (Photo by Antonio Perez - Pool via Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
R. Kelly is asking the high court to toss his federal sex crimes convictions saying that the charges were past the statute of limitations.
Kelly is serving a more than 30-year prison sentence in North Carolina, CNN reported.
His attorney Jennifer Bonjean petitioned the Supreme Court to throw out the conviction for possession of child pornography and enticing minors to engage in sexual activity.
He was already serving a 30-year prison sentence on a conviction in New York when he was sentenced in Chicago in 2023. The Chicago case had a 20-year sentence, WLS reported.
Bojean said that he was wrongly retroactively prosecuted under the PROTECT Act, passed in 2003 which set no limit to the statute of limitations for sex crimes involving minors.
She said that what her client was accused of happened in the 1990s, well before the PROTECT Act became law. Bojean said the act does not have a clause for crimes that happened before it was adopted, TMZ reported.
A federal appeals court already upheld the conviction earlier this year, ruling that “it is not unconstitutional to apply a newer statute of limitations to old conduct when the defendant was subject to prosecution at the time of the change, as Kelly was in 2003,” CNN reported.
In addition to the prison sentence, Kelly was also ordered to pay damages to the victims, TMZ reported.
The New York conviction was for racketeering and sex trafficking, which is not part of the Supreme Court petition, CNN reported. He is serving both sentences concurrently and should be released in 2045, People magazine reported.
Through the years R. Kelly performs at Madison Square Garden on October 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images) (Michael N. Todaro/Getty Images)
Through the years Singer R. Kelly performs at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Through the years R. Kelly performs at at Arise Made In Africa Spring 2012 Designer Collective at Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week Afterparty at Jumeirah Essex House on September 15, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Donna Ward/Getty Images for Arise Made in Africa) (Donna Ward)
Through the years R. Kelly attends a "Trapped In The Closet" screening at Sunshine Cinema on November 19, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
Through the years R. Kelly performs at MSG Theater on November 21, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Through the years Rapper R. Kelly (R) performs with musician Thomas Mars (L) of Phoenix onstage during day 2 of the 2013 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 13, 2013 in Indio, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella) (Christopher Polk)
Through the years R. Kelly performs onstage during R. Kelly, New Edition and The Jacksons at the 2013 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET) (Earl Gibson III/Getty Images for BET)
Through the years (L-R) Actors Sanaa Lathan, singer-songwriter R. Kelly, Nia Long and Melissa De Sousa attend "The Best Man Holiday" screening at Chelsea Bow Tie Cinemas on November 11, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images) (Robin Marchant/Getty Images)
Through the years Singers R. Kelly (L) and Lady Gaga perform onstage during the 2013 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Recording artist R. Kelly performs onstage during the 56th annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Lucian Grainge at The Beverly Hilton on January 25, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS) (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)
Through the years Recording Artist R. Kelly attends Sony Pictures' "THINK LIKE MAN TOO" Atlanta Red Carpet Screening With Kevin Hart, LaLa Anthony, Terrence J, Romany Malco and Tim Story, at Regal Atlantic Station 24 on June 11, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Entertainment) (Rick Diamond)
Through the years Singer R. Kelly attends the Ovadia & Sons front row during New York Fashion Week: Men's S/S 2016 at Skylight Clarkson Sq on July 14, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Through the years R. Kelly performs in concert at Barclays Center on September 25, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Pont/Getty Images) (Mike Pont/Getty Images)
Through the years R. Kelly performs during The Buffet Tour at Allstate Arena on May 7, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images) (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images)
Through the years Singer R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly is facing multiple sexual assault charges and is being held without bail. (Photo by Antonio Perez - Pool via Getty Images) (Antonio Perez/Getty Images)