On Wednesday, R&B singer R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years behind bars in a New York court after being accused of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Originally, his lawyers had argued for a 10-year-sentence, citing his traumatic childhood. Prosecutors pushed for a 25-year sentence in the six-week trial.
Now, the singer is expected to stand trial in Chicago next month where he is still facing child pornography and obstruction-of-justice charges along with two other state cases. With the probability of Kelly losing his upcoming trials, one of Kelly’s lawyers not involved in his New York case has said Kelly could pursue a plea deal.
Kelly’s Chicago federal trial is slated for August 15 and is anticipated to garner interest with so many of his accusers living in the city. He will stand trial with two other co-defendants on charges they fixed his 2008 child pornography trial. Kelly was acquitted in this case.
If Kelly loses his Chicago trial, he may be ordered to serve his sentence immediately after the New York sentence. Kelly is now posed the question of possibly winning his Chicago case or accepting a plea deal, leading to more jail time.