R. Kelly Guilty: Disgraced Singer Could Not Look Straight at Victims During Sentencing
R. Kelly faced his victims during his recent sentencing, and the disgraced singer refused to look at them while they recalled the abuses they went through.
After years of recollecting the horrifying abuses that they suffered at the hands of R. Kelly, seven women shared their stories again in Brooklyn's Eastern District Court.
While doing so, R. Kelly never looked at them, seemingly showing his guilt over the federal sex trafficking charges. It was noted that he was staring straight ahead while the women read their impact statements.
He continued to do so even after a survivor's father told him to look in the eye "man to man."
His victims recalled how the "I Believe I Can Fly" hitmaker groomed them when they were teenagers before sexually abusing them. They also noted that they decided to speak up so no one else could be victimized by his abusive behavior.
The seven women were Jovante Cunningham, Addie, Lizzette Martinez, Kitti Jones, Faith, Sonia, and a woman under the name of Jane Doe No. 2.
"Robert destroyed my young adult life. He took away my innocence. Robert, you destroyed so many people's lives, being abused is not an excuse," Martinez said.
R. Kelly Receives 30 Years Imprisonment
During the Wednesday hearing, R. Kelly was also sentenced to 30 years in prison after he was found guilty of all counts of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Judge Ann Donnelly announced his prison sentence, which is five years more than the minimum years the prosecutors sought.
"These crimes were calculated and carefully planned and regularly executed for almost 25 years. You taught them that love is enslavement and violence," she said. "It seems that the only thing you took from that trial was ways to hem your victims in [with non-disclosure agreements]."
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said that R. Kelly preyed upon children and young women through his fame and money. The lawyer accused the singer of doing all those things for his own sexual gratification.
Peace added that R. Kelly continued committing the crimes for 30 years and avoided punishment for the wrongdoings he did. But after the recent sentencing, his victims rejoiced as they finally got control over their lives.
Meanwhile, Gloria Allred - who represents multiple R. Kelly's victims - hugged the victims one by one.
Although his New York trial is now over, R. Kelly will still face charges against him in Chicago. He will soon deal with 13 criminal charges, including enticing a minor into illegal sexual activity, child pornography, and conspiracy to obstruct justice, to name a few.
