Chicago, Illinois - The federal appeals court in Chicago has upheld the 20-year prison sentence of R. Kelly, the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, on child sex convictions. The ruling comes following his conviction in 2022 on three charges of producing child sexual abuse images and three charges of enticement of minors for sex.

In his appeal, Kelly argued that the former, shorter statute of limitations on child sex crime prosecutions in Illinois should have applied to his case instead of the current law, which allows charges to be filed while the accuser is still alive. He also contended that charges involving one accuser should have been tried separately from those tied to three other accusers due to video evidence that played a significant role in the trial.

However, a three-judge panel from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago rejected Kelly's arguments. The panel pointed out that despite viewing the "abhorrent tapes," jurors had acquitted Kelly on seven of the 13 counts against him. The court also dismissed Kelly's claim that he should not have been prosecuted, stating that his attempts to elude the charges were part of a complex scheme to keep his victims silent.

Kelly's attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, expressed disappointment in the ruling but affirmed that their fight is far from over. She stated that they plan to seek U.S. Supreme Court review of the decision and will pursue all available appellate remedies to secure Kelly's freedom.

Prosecutors in Chicago had sought a sentencing of 25 years for Kelly, while also requesting that the time not begin until after he completes a 30-year sentence imposed in 2022 in New York for federal racketeering and sex trafficking convictions. However, Judge Harry Leinenweber ordered that the 20-year sentence from the Chicago case be served simultaneously with the New York sentence.

Kelly has also appealed the New York sentence, and his attorney recently argued before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that prosecutors improperly used a racketeering statute meant for organized crime to target the singer.

As the legal battles continue, the verdict stands, and R. Kelly will serve his 20-year prison sentence for his conviction on child sex charges.