Celebrity

R. Kelly To Learn If He Effectively Gets ‘Life’ Sentence until 2066

Published

1 year ago

2023-02-23

CHICAGO, Ill. — R. Kelly will find out whether he will spend the rest of his life in prison when a federal judge sentences him on child pornography and enticement of minors for sex on Thursday.

Prosecutors have asked the judge presiding over Kelly’s sentencing hearing in Chicago to order him to serve a 25-year sentence only after completing a 30-year sentence imposed in New York last year for racketeering and sex trafficking.

This would make the Grammy Awards winner, 56, eligible for release in 2066, a year before his 100th birthday. The defense seeks a sentence of around ten years to be served concurrently.

If Kelly is allowed to serve his new sentence and his New York sentence at the same time, he should be able to get out of prison around the age of 80. This gives him some hope that he will be able to go back to his life outside of prison.

Leinenweber stated at the start of the hearing that he did not believe Kelly used fear to entice underage girls for sex.

“The (government’s) entire grooming theory was sort of the inverse of fear of bodily harm,” the judge explained. “It was the fear of lost love, lost affection” (Kelly). … It just doesn’t seem to me to rise to the level of fear of bodily harm.”

Prosecutors argue that Kelly’s crimes against children and his lack of remorse justify the harsher sentence.

At the start of the hearing, a calm Kelly gave a brief statement when the judge asked if he had reviewed key presentencing documents for any inaccuracies.

“Your honor, I have discussed it with my attorney,” Kelly explained. “I’m going to rely on my attorney for that.”

Kelly’s accusers asked the judge to punish him severely.

In a statement read aloud in court, a woman who testified under the alias “Jane” said she had given up on her childhood dreams of becoming a singer and her hopes for fulfilling relationships.

“Robert Kelly has stolen my dreams,” the statement said. “I’ll never be able to make up for what I lost to Robert Kelly. “Robert has left a permanent scar on me.”

During Kelly’s trial, she was a key witness for prosecutors, and four of his convictions are linked to her.

Prosecutors seek an additional 25 years in prison for R Kelly.

Federal prosecutors asked a judge on Thursday to sentence singer R. Kelly to an additional 25 years in prison for his child pornography and enticement convictions in Chicago last year, which would be in addition to the 30 years he has already served in a New York case.
“When a pedophile takes your virginity at the age of 14… your life is never your own,” Jane wrote in her statement.

Another accuser, who went by the alias “Nia,” appeared in court and addressed Kelly directly. Nia stated, her voice quivering, that Kelly would repeatedly pick at her supposed flaws while abusing her.

“Now you’re here… because something is wrong with you,” she explained. “You will no longer be able to harm children.”

Kelly was convicted last year on six of thirteen counts by a Chicago jury: three counts of producing child porn and three counts of enticing minors for sex.

Kelly rose from obscurity in Chicago to become one of the world’s most famous R&B artists. Known for his smash hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and sex-infused songs like “Bump n’ Grind,” he sold millions of albums even after allegations of sexual abuse against him surfaced in the 1990s.

Prosecutors described Kelly as a “serial sexual predator” who used his celebrity and wealth to entice, sexually abuse, and discard star-struck fans.

US Assistant Attorney Jeannice Appenteng urged the judge on Thursday to sentence Kelly to prison “for the rest of his life.”

She claimed that Kelly’s child abuse was made worse because he “memorialized” it

She claimed that Kelly’s child abuse was made worse because he “memorialized” it by filming victims, including Jane. She testified in court that Kelly “used Jane as a sex prop, a thing” for making pornographic videos.

In papers filed before the hearing, Jennifer Bonjean, Kelly’s lawyer, said that prosecutors gave an “embellished story” to try to get the judge to join the government’s “bloodthirsty campaign” to make Kelly a symbol of the #MeToo movement.

Kelly has suffered enough, according to Bonjean, including financially. She claimed he was once worth $1 billion but is now “destitute.”

In court on Thursday, Bonjean stated that Kelly would be lucky to complete his 30-year sentence in New York on his own. Giving him a second consecutive 25-year sentence “is overkill; it is symbolic,” she said. “Why? It’s because it’s R. Kelly.”

Kelly’s silence, she added, should not be interpreted as a lack of remorse.

While she advised Kelly not to speak because he is still appealing his convictions and could face further legal action, she added, “He would like to, he would like to very much.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Celebrity

Kevin Spacey Denies “New Allegations” of Inappropriate Behavior

Published

1 hour ago

2024-05-04

Geoff Thomas

Kevin Spacey said he has struggled to get back to work: Getty Images

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has denied new allegations of inappropriate behavior from men in a British television documentary airing next week. After his acquittal last year in a London court, Spacey told journalist Dan Wootton online that he had hard to return to work.

in the interview “Kevin Spacey: Right Of Reply” that aired late Friday on Wootton’s YouTube channel.

Four men accused Spacey of sexual assault 20 years ago, but a London jury acquitted him in July. The court victory was his second since defeating “Star Trek: Discovery” actor Anthony Rapp’s $40 million New York case in 2022.

Channel 4 in Britain and Max in the U.S. will carry the documentary “Spacey Unmasked” on May 6 and 7.

The actor indicated in an interview that the documentary will contain men’s 1976–2013 testimony.

Spacey, who won Oscars for “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty,” stated, “I take full responsibility for my past behaviour and my actions, but I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologize to anyone who’s made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about

“Never have I said that if someone gives me sexual favors, I will help them with their career,” he told AP.

Old Vic Theatre in London: Getty Images

Kevin Spacey, who was creative director of the Old Vic Theatre in London from 2004 to 2015, said that he was a “flirt” with 20-something males and made “clumsy” approaches.

“I’ve clearly hooked up with some men, who thought a relationship with me might help them advance in their careers,” he stated. “But there was no conversation with me, it was all part of their plan, a plan that was only going to fail because I wasn’t involved.”

Kevin Spacey said on X, formerly Twitter, that he had “repeatedly requested” that Channel 4 give him more than seven days to react to their documentary charges.

Spacey said the channel declined “on the basis that they feel that asking for a response in 7 days to new, anonymized and non-specific allegations is a ‘fair opportunity’ for me to refute any allegations made against me.”

“Each time I have been given time and a proper forum to defend myself, the allegations have failed under scrutiny and I have been exonerated,” he said. Spacey called his acquittal a “life sentence” and said he struggled to return to work.

Since the #MeToo movement began in 2017, his acting career has suffered. He lost his Netflix leadership role as Frank Underwood in “House of Cards”.

Kevin Spacey Found Not Guilty on 9 Sexual Misconduct Charges

Kevin Spacey Found Not Guilty on 9 Sexual Misconduct Charges

Celebrity

‘Star Wars’ Actor Mark Hamill Drops By White House For A Visit With ‘Joe-Bi-Wan Kenobi’

Published

7 hours ago

2024-05-04

Kiara Grace

AP - VOR News Image

Washington — On Friday, “Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill visited the White House with President Joe Biden, leaving with a pair of the president’s aviator sunglasses and a newfound respect for the job.

“I love the merch,” he added, removing his glasses briefly at the White House daily press briefing following his meeting with Biden. Hamill, 72, famous for playing Luke Skywalker, joked with reporters that he’d answer a few questions as long as they weren’t about “Star Wars.”

AP – VOR News Image

‘Star Wars’ Actor Mark Hamill Drops By White House For A Visit With ‘Joe-Bi-Wan Kenobi’

“I was honored to be asked to come to the White House to meet the president,” he told reporters. He’d been to the White House previously, during the Carter and Obama administrations, but he’d never seen the Oval Office, which he described as impressive. According to Hamill, Biden displayed photographs and other memorabilia from the Oval Office.

Hamill claimed Biden told him to call him “Joe,” to which Hamill responded with an alternative suggestion: “Can I call you Joe-bi-Wan Kenobi?”

“He liked that,” said Hamill, who also portrayed the Joker in “Batman: The Animated Series.”

AP – VOR News Image

‘Star Wars’ Actor Mark Hamill Drops By White House For A Visit With ‘Joe-Bi-Wan Kenobi’

Both Mark and the White House were hazy about the cause for his visit. But Mark, a Democrat and Biden supporter with a sizable social media following, has been posting about the president’s reelection campaign this week.

“May 1 Not Quench Your Thirst For Biden’s Re-election!” he tweeted on May 1.

On Friday, he wrote, “May 3 be absurd that the guy who tried to steal a fair election is allowed to run again,” referring to Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

May 4 is unofficially known as “Star Wars” Day, partly due to the famous Jedi line “May the Force Be With You.” The pun is “May 4 be with you.”

AP – VOR News Image

‘Star Wars’ Actor Mark Hamill Drops By White House For A Visit With ‘Joe-Bi-Wan Kenobi’

Mark also provided his voice for “Air Alert,” a downloadable program linked to Ukraine’s air defense system. His voice warns citizens to take cover if Russia launches another aerial strike on Ukraine.

SOURCE – (AP)

Celebrity

Kevin Spacey Denies New Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior To Be Aired On UK Television Next Week

Published

7 hours ago

2024-05-04

Kiara Grace

AP - VOR News Image

LONDON — Kevin Spacey, the Oscar-winning actor, has denied new charges of inappropriate behavior by men who will appear in a British television documentary airing next week.

In an online interview with journalist Dan Wootton, Spacey stated that he has never done anything unlawful and has struggled to return to work since being convicted of criminal charges in a London court last year.

“I can’t go through this again, allowing myself to be baselessly attacked without defending myself,” he said in the “Kevin Spacey: Right Of Reply” interview, which aired late Friday on Wootton’s YouTube channel.

AP – VOR News Image

Kevin Spacey Denies New Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior To Be Aired On UK Television Next Week

Last July, a London jury cleared Spacey of sexual assault charges stemming from 20-year-old allegations made by four men. The court triumph was his second since defending himself against a $40 million lawsuit filed in New York in 2022 by “Star Trek: Discovery” actor Anthony Rapp.

The documentary “Spacey Unmasked” will be shown on Channel 4 in Britain on May 6 and 7 and on Max in the United States.

The actor mentioned during the interview that the program will feature men’s evidence about events between 1976 and 2013.

“I take full responsibility for my past behaviour and my actions, but I cannot and will not take responsibility or apologize to anyone who’s made up stuff about me or exaggerated stories about me,” said Spacey, who received Academy Award nominations for “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty.”

“I’ve never told someone that if they give me sexual favors, then I will help them out with their career, never,” he said.

Rolling Stone – VOR News Image

Kevin Spacey Denies New Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior To Be Aired On UK Television Next Week

Spacey, the creative director of the Old Vic Theatre in London from 2004 to 2015, said that he was a “flirt” with men in their twenties and occasionally made “clumsy” advances.

“I’ve clearly hooked up with some men who thought they might get ahead in their careers by having a relationship with me,” he went on to say. But there was no conversation with me. It was all part of their plan, a plan that was always destined to fail because I wasn’t in on the deal.”

The actor also stated on X, formerly Twitter, that he had “repeatedly requested” that Channel 4 give him more than seven days to reply to the claims brought against him in their program.

Spacey said that the network turned down his request “on the basis that they feel that asking for a response in 7 days to new, anonymized and non-specific allegations is a ‘fair opportunity’ for me to refute any allegations made against me.”

“Each time I have been given the time and a proper forum to defend myself, the allegations have failed under scrutiny and I have been exonerated,” he said.

ABC – VOR News Image

Kevin Spacey Denies New Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior To Be Aired On UK Television Next Week

Spacey said he had struggled to return to work since being acquitted of all criminal charges, characterizing the experience as a “life sentence.”

His acting career had suffered since 2017 when he was publicly accused of inappropriate behavior at the start of the #MeToo movement. He then lost his starring role as Frank Underwood in the Netflix thriller “House of Cards”.

SOURCE – (AP)