A warrant has been issued for R Kelly’s arrest, after he failed to turn up to court in Minnesota, over sex crime charges.
The Ignition singer was due to appear at a hearing on Thursday, after he was charged with two counts of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18.
However, the 52-year-old – real name Robert Kelly – was a no-show in court, as he is currently incarcerated at a prison in Chicago, facing charges including child porn and obstruction of justice.
The Minnesota District Attorney’s Office told TMZ that federal authorities are ‘unwilling to give them accesses to the star until his federal case has been resolved.
His lawyer hit out at the proceedings, telling TMZ: ‘They never came to get him, was he supposed to do, telepathically transport himself?’ Kelly allegedly paid a teenager – said to be between 16 and 17 at the time – $200 (£176) to get naked, before asking her to perform sexual acts in his Minneapolis hotel room.
R Kelly has denied all allegations. The alleged victim claimed that, while there was ‘naked dancing’ and ‘sexual touching’, there was no intercourse. The incident is said to have taken place on 11 July 2001. Gloria Allred is representing the alleged victim, and said in a statement: ‘I would like to emphasise that my client is not a prostitute. She is instead a child victim of Mr. Kelly. ‘My understanding from law enforcement in that state is that the only available statute for which Mr. Kelly can be charged is the prostitution statute.’