Various reports stating that a warrant was issued for R. Kelly’s arrest yesterday were somewhat exaggerated. While the 40-year-old R&B singer has been facing charges of child pornography since 2002, the Associated Press reports that Judge Vincent Gaughan granted Kelly a continuance through 9:00 a.m. Thursday. Prosecutors in the case did ask Judge Gaughan to issue an arrest warrant Wednesday, but Kelly was given the extra time due to his tour buses being held up by inclement weather and speeding violations.
Cook County Ill. officials agreed to allow Kelly to go on a 45 city tour in support of his Double Up album, but the star was delayed by a snowstorm. Matters were compounded when the Utah Highway Patrol cited Kelly’s tour caravan for speeding on Highway 70 at roughly 7:55 a.m. on Dec. 18. Kelly’s attorney, Edward Genson, added that the buses were required to pull off the road for an additional eight hours because incomplete bus logbooks didn’t indicate if the drivers had enough rest.
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“He was free to go,” said Cameron Roden, a public information officer with the Utah Highway Patrol. “If he wanted to arrange for other transportation, he was free to do so.”Kelly’s failure to find other transportation caused the prosecution to ask for the arrest warrant, as the trial has already faced multiple delays. Assuming Kelly appears in court today, Judge Gaughan will set a new trial date. If convicted on all charges Robert Kelly faces up to 15 years in prison.
