R. Kelly, His Lawyers Fail To Appear In Hennepin County Court
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Minneapolis judge has issued an arrest warrant for music superstar R. Kelly.
He failed to show for a court hearing Thursday on two charges related to engaging in prostitution with a minor. Kelly is already in custody on federal charges in Illinois.
The clerk actually began the proceeding asking if there was a Robert Kelly in the courtroom. As expected he was not. There was also not an attorney representing Mr. Kelly.
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The judge and prosecutor said they expected Kelly to be a no show. He is facing 18 counts in federal court including child pornography, kidnapping and forced labor. The Minnesota charges filed last month stem from a 2001 incident in which Kelly allegedly paid a 17-year-old girl to undress and dance for him, and he allegedly sexually touched her.
The no-show appearance may be exactly what happens to the entire case. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said previously he would not be disappointed if this case was never tried here, as long as Kelly served time for the crimes he committed elsewhere.
Judge Jay Quam said the arrest warrant he issued for Kelly would be served at a time when Kelly "was able to return to Minnesota to face the charges."